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African Trade Beads
African beads were first produced as a form of currency for native inhabitants all across the continent of Africa centuries ago, and are now appreciated world wide by thousands of bead collectors, wearers, and enthusiasts. What draws people to trade beads is not only their elegance and beauty in craft, but the experience and history that comes along with each bead. While African bead makers continue to create new beads today, many of the items we offer have traveled long distances and years of existence to arrive where they are today.
We carry a large selection of high quality, authentic trade beads. Hundreds of strands in stock, including glass trade beads, antique african trade beads, vintage venetian trade beads, Chevron trade beads, czech trade beads, and more.
Trade Beads are beads that have been used as a form of currency for the exchange of goods and services especially in West Africa. Some of the more common items that these beads were bartered for include ivory, gold, slaves, and other goods that were in demand by Europeans and colonial overlords. Trade beads were made throughout Europe, however their production was concentrated in Venice and Bohemia where the secrets of glass bead production were a carefully guarded secret. The high demand for European beads in Africa can be attributed to the cultural value put by African peoples on decorative items. Jewelry items could add to the status of the owner and could be passed on to future generations as a symbol of wealth.
Interestingly, trade beads were also used for trade in the New World. The important role that they played is illustrated by the legend that the Dutch purchased the island of Manhattan from local Native American tribes for several strands of beads. It is believed that Christopher Columbus used glass Trade Beads for barter during his early voyages. Later, Spanish explorers and European fur traders and American explorers such as Lewis and Clark used Trade Beads to facilitate interactions with local peoples and to procure goods. Today, African beads used in the trade are considered highly collectible items.
A wide variety of Trade Beads were produced between the 16th and 20th centuries. One of the most celebrated bead designs is the Millefiori Bead from Venice that was named after the characteristic flower pattern on its surface. The methods used to make these and other beads are a testament to the innovation of Venetian artisans. African artisans subsequently copied glass cane beads such as the Millefiori using powdered glass techniques to produce indigenous African Kiffa Beads with similar patterns. Additional well-known varieties of trade beads include Chevrons, Dogon Beads,Vaseline Beads, Russian Blue Beads, Skunk Beads and many others.
Today, Trade Beads are world-renown for their rich legacy and aesthetic beauty. While African Trade Beads have long been highly regarded in African culture, their appreciation in Western countries continues to grow both among bead collectors and artists as well as bead enthusiasts alike.
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Amber Annular Wound Dogon Beads
in stock
Take a look at this fabulous strand of annular wound trade beads also known as "Dutch Donuts." Trade beads like these have traveled multiple contin...
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Midnight Blue Round Millefiori Beads (14mm)
Only 7 left!
Admire these beautiful millefiori beads, also commonly known as "thousand flower beads." Each bead is handmade and 100% unique. Beads measure appro...
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Antique Transparent Dutch Dogon Trade Beads
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Fabulous strand of old round wound trade beads also known as Dutch Dogons from the African Trade. These are rare beads truly show the wear of time ...
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Rose Annular Wound Dogon Beads (14mm)
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Take a look at this fabulous strand of annular wound trade beads also known as "Dutch Donuts." Trade beads like these have traveled multiple contin...
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Yellow Tomato Beads (15x14mm)
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Checkout these beautiful and unusual old Ethiopian glass beads known as "tomato beads". The strand measures 24-26-28", with beads measuring 15-16m...
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Orange Glass Tomato Beads (16x14mm)
Only 1 left!
Checkout these beautiful and unusual old Ethiopian glass beads known as "tomato beads". The strand measures 28", with beads measuring approximatel...
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Small Vintage Mali Wedding Beads
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Mali Wedding beads are hand-made, and are presented to brides on their wedding days. They were made in what was once known as Czechoslovakia, for t...
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Black & Yellow Antique Venetian Rattlesnake Trade Beads
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Admire these authentic antique Venetian Rattlesnake Beads, which are named such for their distinctive pattern. These Trade beads were likely crafte...
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Rare Clear Translucent Vaseline Beads
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These authentic vintage Vaseline beads are rare both in their color and in their shape. Made from Bohemian Glass during the 1800's, beads such as t...
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Mixed Venetian Aja Beads (14mm)
Only 1 left!
These authentic Aja beads are made from Venetian Glass. Aja beads such as these are identified by their distinctive disk-like shape. To this day, V...
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13817
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Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13810
Only 1 left!
Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13841
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Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
View full details
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13843
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Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
View full details
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13834
Only 1 left!
Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
View full details
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13813
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Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
View full details
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13821
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Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
View full details
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13816
Only 1 left!
Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
View full details
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13826
Only 1 left!
Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
View full details
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13824
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Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori ha...
View full details
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Mixed Blue & Red Medley Vaseline Beads #13717
Out of stock
Old Vaseline beads in these color are exceedingly rare and hard to find. Beads such as these were likely made in Bohemia using a combination of gla...
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Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13430
Out of stock
Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...
View full details
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Assorted Antique Nigerian Trade Beads #1179
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What a strand! This unique medley of includes a collection of color coordinated beads including a Millefiori Bead, Old Cylindrical Cornaline D'Alep...
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Rare Graduated Russian Blue & Vaseline Beads
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Among the most celebrated of faceted beads, Russian Blues derive their romantic name from their involvement in the Russian fur trade of the Pacific...
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