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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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Premium Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16590 Sold out
$285.00 - $285.00
$285.00
$285.00
$285.00 - $285.00
$285.00

Premium Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16590

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
$285.00 - $285.00
$285.00
$285.00
$285.00 - $285.00
$285.00
Sold out
Premium Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16589 Sold out
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00

Premium Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16589

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
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
Sold out
Premium Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16588 Sold out
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00

Premium Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16588

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
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
Sold out
Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16587
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00

Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16587

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 has...

View full details
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16586
Sold out
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00

Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16586

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
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
Sold out
Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16585
Sold out
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00

Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16585

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
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
$259.00
$259.00 - $259.00
$259.00
Sold out
Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16584
Sold out
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
$245.00
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00

Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16584

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
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
$245.00
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
Sold out
Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16583
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
$245.00
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00

Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16583

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 has...

View full details
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
$245.00
$245.00 - $245.00
$245.00
Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16582
Sold out
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00

Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16582

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
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
Sold out
Black & Yellow Antique Venetian Rattlesnake Beads #16574
Sold out
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00

Black & Yellow Antique Venetian Rattlesnake Beads #16574

Out of stock

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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$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
Sold out
Antique Black French Cross Venetian Eye Beads #16576
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
$295.00
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00

Antique Black French Cross Venetian Eye Beads #16576

Only 1 left!

These stunning antique eye beads feature the iconic French cross design on a deep black glass base — a hallmark of Venetian bead artistry. Handcraf...

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$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
$295.00
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
Antique Black French Cross Venetian Eye Beads #16573
Sold out
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00

Antique Black French Cross Venetian Eye Beads #16573

Out of stock

These stunning antique eye beads feature the iconic French cross design on a deep black glass base — a hallmark of Venetian bead artistry. Handcraf...

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$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Rattlesnake Disk & Vintage Krobo Beads #16575
Sold out
$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00
$185.00
$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00

Antique Venetian Rattlesnake Disk & Vintage Krobo Beads #16575

Out of stock

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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$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00
$185.00
$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00
Sold out
Antique Blue Glass Dutch Dogon Beads #16744
Sold out
$235.00
$235.00 - $235.00
$235.00
$185.00
$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00

Antique Blue Glass Dutch Dogon Beads #16744

Out of stock

Fabulous strand of old wound trade beads also known as Dutch Dogons from the African Trade. Some of the earliest hand wound beads traded in Africa ...

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$235.00
$235.00 - $235.00
$235.00
$185.00
$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00
Sold out
Rare Antique Venetian Seven-Layer Chevron Beads – Museum-Grade Collector Strand
$10,345.00 - $10,345.00
$10,345.00
$10,345.00
$10,345.00 - $10,345.00
$10,345.00

Rare Antique Venetian Seven-Layer Chevron Beads – Museum-Grade Collector Strand

Only 1 left!

Take a look at this remarkable strand of authentic Seven-Layer Venetian Chevron Beads — a true collector’s treasure. Chevron beads are among the mo...

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$10,345.00 - $10,345.00
$10,345.00
$10,345.00
$10,345.00 - $10,345.00
$10,345.00
Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16599
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00
$187.00
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00

Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16599

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 has...

View full details
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00
$187.00
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00
Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16600
Sold out
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00
$187.00
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00

Semi-Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #16600

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
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00
$187.00
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00
Sold out
Matching Striped Oval Antique Venetian African Trade Beads #16604
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00
$187.00
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00

Matching Striped Oval Antique Venetian African Trade Beads #16604

Only 1 left!

This beautiful strand features a matching set of striped oval antique Venetian beads, a rare find among African Trade beads. Handcrafted in Murano,...

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$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00
$187.00
$187.00 - $187.00
$187.00
Semi-Matching Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads #16603
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00

Semi-Matching Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads #16603

Only 1 left!

WOW! Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefior...

View full details
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
$195.00
$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00
Matching Antique Elbow Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads #16601
Sold out
$295.00
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00

Matching Antique Elbow Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads #16601

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...

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$295.00
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
Sold out
Antique Black Venetian Fancy Flower and Thousand Eye Beads #13175
$685.00 - $685.00
$685.00
$685.00
$685.00 - $685.00
$685.00

Antique Black Venetian Fancy Flower and Thousand Eye Beads #13175

Only 1 left!

This stunning strand features an exceptional assortment of antique black Venetian fancy beads, including multiple varieties of flower beads, classi...

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$685.00 - $685.00
$685.00
$685.00
$685.00 - $685.00
$685.00
Antique Black Venetian Fried Egg & Mixed Trade Beads #504
Sold out
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
$295.00
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00

Antique Black Venetian Fried Egg & Mixed Trade Beads #504

Out of stock

Admire these authentic antique Venetian trade beads. These Trade beads were likely crafted during the 19th century by specialized artisans whose te...

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$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
$295.00
$295.00 - $295.00
$295.00
Sold out
Purple Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads #517
Sold out
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00
$215.00
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00

Purple Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads #517

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
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00
$215.00
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00
Sold out
Black Oval Fancy Venetian Trade Beads #506
$395.00 - $395.00
$395.00
$395.00
$395.00 - $395.00
$395.00

Black Oval Fancy Venetian Trade Beads #506

Only 1 left!

These old beads from West Africa are originally of Venetian provenance and were transported by merchants and explorers for trade in Africa during t...

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$395.00 - $395.00
$395.00
$395.00
$395.00 - $395.00
$395.00