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Venetian Trade Beads from Venice have always been coveted , both in West Africa, where they were shipped to starting as early as the late 19th century, and in Europe and North America. India has been making beads for centuries and started making beads that look like the Venetian Trade Beads from about 1980. The Indian beads are generally larger than the original Venetian beads with larger holes . These Indian Venetian Beads found their way to Ghana’s Bead Markets where Funky Frog found them and was captivated by their colourful and varied shapes. This strand of 20 jaunty yellow and black stripes beads are about 9x19mm. They are handmade so will vary in size , shape and colour. -
A gorgeous strand of lots of old Trade Beads strung on string 36" long. This mix of Venetian Beads range from tiny - 5 mm to 12 mm. These beads have traveled across continents and oceans and show some of their wear. Somehow the evidence of their adventures only adds to their beauty. -
Out of stock
A mix of of bright coloured tiny new Vinyl Beads are strung on wool and a strand is 32" long.The 'heishi' beads are about 4 mm. You will receive a strand of beads similar to the one in the photos. These Vinyl Beads make great spacer beads. And terrific bracelets for when we frolic in the summer sun!! Hunting for Vinyl Beads during the 2018 Beads Hunt proved to be a challenge. These unique thin disc (heishi) beads which are made with vulcanite, a vulcanized hard rubber and traces of vinyl (some of the older vinyl beads are made from recycled vinyl records) are a very popular item at Funky Frog and several clients had asked me to look for them. The markets have been flooded by the new Vinyl Beads in all sorts of bright vivid colours and sizes. The downside of the new vinyl beads are they are rougher and not as smooth and silky as the older vintage vinyl beads. It is these older Vintage Vinyl Beads that are sought after and are becoming harder and more expensive to find. Also the downside to the vintage vinyl beads is some of them are friable and break very easily especially the black. Funky Frog brought back a mix of the two. You will see all the Vintage Vinyl Beads will be labeled Vintage. These beads are becoming quite valuable. The new Vinyl Beads are fun, vibrant and plentiful. Funky Frog has both. Vinyl Beads make great Spacer Beads or as the feature beads for your jewelry. -
Out of stock
This mix of brown, red and black tiny Vintage Vinyl Beads are strung on string and a strand is about 26" long.The 'heishi' beads are about 6 mm. You will receive one of the strands in the photo These Vinyl Beads make great spacer beads. Hunting for Vinyl Beads during the 2018 Beads Hunt proved to be a challenge. These unique thin disc (heishi) beads which are made with vulcanite, a vulcanized hard rubber and traces of vinyl (some of the older vinyl beads are made from recycled vinyl records) are a very popular item at Funky Frog and several clients had asked me to look for them. The markets have been flooded by the new Vinyl Beads in all sorts of bright vivid colours and sizes. The downside of the new vinyl beads are they are rougher and not as smooth and silky as the older vintage vinyl beads. It is these older Vintage Vinyl Beads that are sought after and are becoming harder and more expensive to find. Also the downside to the vintage vinyl beads is some of them are friable and break very easily especially the black. Funky Frog brought back a mix of the two. You will see all the Vintage Vinyl Beads will be labeled Vintage. These beads are becoming quite valuable. The new Vinyl Beads are fun, vibrant and plentiful. Funky Frog has both. Vinyl Beads make great Spacer Beads or as the feature beads for your jewelry. -
These brownish red and black Vintage Vinyl Beads are strung on string and a strand is 34" long.The 'heishi' beads are about 14 mm. You will receive the strand in the photos. These Vinyl Beads make great spacer beads. These vinyl beads are vintage. Hunting for Vinyl Beads during the 2018 Beads Hunt proved to be a challenge. These unique thin disc (heishi) beads which are made with vulcanite, a vulcanized hard rubber and traces of vinyl (some of the older vinyl beads are made from recycled vinyl records) are a very popular item at Funky Frog and several clients had asked me to look for them. The markets have been flooded by the new Vinyl Beads in all sorts of bright vivid colours and sizes and going very cheap. The downside of the new vinyl beads are they are rougher and not as smooth and silky as the older vintage vinyl beads. It is these older Vintage Vinyl Beads that are sought after and are becoming harder and more expensive to find. Also the downside to the vintage vinyl beads is some of them are friable and break very easily especially the black. Funky Frog brought back a mix of the two. You will see all the Vintage Vinyl Beads will be labeled Vintage. These beads are becoming quite valuable. The new Vinyl Beads are fun, vibrant and plentiful. Funky Frog has both. Vinyl Beads make great Spacer Beads or as the feature beads for your jewelry. -
Out of stock
This mix of black and yellow Vinyl Beads are strung on string and a strand is 28" long.The 'heishi' beads are about 14 mm. You will receive the strand in the photos. These Vinyl Beads make great spacer beads. Hunting for Vinyl Beads during the 2018 Beads Hunt proved to be a challenge. These unique thin disc (heishi) beads which are made with vulcanite, a vulcanized hard rubber and traces of vinyl (some of the older vinyl beads are made from recycled vinyl records) are a very popular item at Funky Frog and several clients had asked me to look for them. The markets have been flooded by the new Vinyl Beads in all sorts of bright vivid colours and sizes and going very cheap. The downside of the new vinyl beads are they are rougher and not as smooth and silky as the older vintage vinyl beads. It is these older Vintage Vinyl Beads that are sought after and are becoming harder and more expensive to find. Also the downside to the vintage vinyl beads is some of them are friable and break very easily especially the black. Funky Frog brought back a mix of the two. You will see all the Vintage Vinyl Beads will be labeled Vintage. These beads are becoming quite valuable. The new Vinyl Beads are fun, vibrant and plentiful. Funky Frog has both. Vinyl Beads make great Spacer Beads or as the feature beads for your jewelry. -
These black Vinyl Beads are strung on wool and a strand is 37" long.The 'heishi' beads are about 14 mm. These Vinyl Beads make great spacer beads. These vinyl beads are contemporary. Hunting for Vinyl Beads during the 2018 Beads Hunt proved to be a challenge. These unique thin disc (heishi) beads which are made with vulcanite, a vulcanized hard rubber and traces of vinyl (some of the older vinyl beads are made from recycled vinyl records) are a very popular item at Funky Frog and several clients had asked me to look for them. The markets have been flooded by the new Vinyl Beads in all sorts of bright vivid colours and sizes. The downside of the new vinyl beads are they are rougher and not as smooth and silky as the older vintage vinyl beads. It is these older Vintage Vinyl Beads that are sought after and are becoming harder and more expensive to find. Also the downside to the vintage vinyl beads is some of them are friable and break very easily especially the black. Funky Frog brought back a mix of the two. You will see all the Vintage Vinyl Beads will be labeled Vintage. These beads are becoming quite valuable. The new Vinyl Beads are fun, vibrant and plentiful. Funky Frog has both. Vinyl Beads make great Spacer Beads or as the feature beads for your jewelry. -
Out of stock
One bracelet sized strand of about 20 hand painted Recycled Glass Beads which are strung on string. The beads are about 11x14 mm and have a tribal design with black, red, yellow and white. These recycled glass beads were handcrafted in Ghana, Africa by crushing old, discarded glass, adding colorant and then pouring the powder into clay molds. The stem of a local plant is added, this burns away during firing, leaving a hole for stringing. The beads are fired in a wood burning earthen oven. The beads are then hand painted and then refired. If you would like to read more about this and see photos please check out the blog: Recycled Glass Beads ... Ghana is famous for this type of bead. -
A strand of 41 black Recycled Glass beads strung on string 22". The beads have a soft smooth texture and are a 10 x 15 mm football shape. These beads are an unusual shape and designed by an innovative designer (seen adding up my beads in photo!) who has a cottage industry making beads by hand just outside Accra. It is always a pleasure to go and check out what he has made. Check out the blog about our visit here ... -
Gorgeous Ebony wood beads. Each large oblong bead is about 41x12 mm and the small ones are about 31x9 mm. These beads are a mix of dark ebony and various hues of amber. They make a real statement as a necklace strung togehter.. The trader in the Koforidua Market who sold these to me said they were "African Amber". A lot of beads are put under the name 'African Amber' but by any name they are gorgeous and add a certain something .... These beads are $3 each -
In Africa, these Bodom beads are held in the highest esteem and usually only worn for celebrations, funerals, and are often buried with the dead. There is much folklore about their magical powers as well. These bodoms have the 'evil eye'. The belief in the ‘evil eye’ dates back thousands of years. It is one of the strongest symbolic symbols in the world. Wearing an evil eye as an amulet is believed to protect the wearer from evil forces. The evil eye has symbolism in practically every country in the world and every religion. Very powerful stuff! These impressive beads are still being made today in the same painstaking and labour intensive way as the ancestors. To see these beads being made please check out the blog, the Bodom. These Bodom Bead are squashed bicone shaped and are about 2mmH x 3mmW . These medium beads are taupe, black and rust red with 'evil eye' designs. The hole is about 5 mm. The beads have a rough, earthy, organic feel to them. These beads are handmade so will have slight imperfections and vary in size, colour and shape. Please note these are contemporary beads made with heirloom powder glass that the Bead Maker said is rare. -
A strand of 91 Sandcast Recycled Glass Beads strung on raffia 36" long. The beads are around 8 mm and are a mix of colours; green, white and black. These recycled glass beads were handcrafted in Ghana, Africa by crushing old, discarded glass,, adding colorant and then pouring the powder into clay molds. The stem of a local plant is added, this burns away during firing, leaving a hole for stringing. The beads are fired in a woodburning earthen oven. Ghana is famous for this type of bead. -
A strand of 100 hard wood Mali Prayer Beads that are a dark brownish-black (more black than brown) with a silver band strung on string 28" long. Two sizes are medium and small: medium - the bead is about 10-12 mm and the hole is about 2mm and small - the bead is about 8-10 mm ... these are handmade so will vary slightly in size and shape. 'The English word bead derives from the Old English noun bede which means a prayer. The exact origins of prayer beads remain uncertain, but their earliest use probably traces to Hindu prayers in India.' (wikipedia) -
A colourful strand of 100 Mali Wedding Beads strung on fishing wire 27" long. Like many African Trade Beads, these multicolored, tear shaped, glass beads were originally made in what was then known as Czechoslovakia and later traded to Africa. In Mali it is a tradition to present these beads to the bride on her wedding day. You will receive a strand similar to the one in the photo.
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