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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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Jumbo Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #15972 Sold out
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
$325.00
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00

Jumbo Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #15972

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

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$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
$325.00
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
Sold out
Antique Dutch Dabwa Trade Beads (White) Sold out
$239.00
$239.00 - $239.00
$239.00
$219.00
$219.00 - $219.00
$219.00

Antique Dutch Dabwa Trade Beads (White)

Out of stock

These rare Dutch Flower Trade Beads are hard to find. Dutch and Venetian traders once used these beads to trade with the people of Africa. Locally ...

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$239.00
$239.00 - $239.00
$239.00
$219.00
$219.00 - $219.00
$219.00
Sold out
Red White & Blue Antique Millefiori Trade Beads #13711 Sold out
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
$325.00
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00

Red White & Blue Antique Millefiori Trade Beads #13711

Out of stock

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

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$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
$325.00
$325.00 - $325.00
$325.00
Sold out
Premium Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads #13392 Sold out
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00

Premium Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads #13392

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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$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13428
Sold out
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13428

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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$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
Sold out
Old Green Watermelon Chevron Bead Medley #13362
Sold out
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00

Old Green Watermelon Chevron Bead Medley #13362

Out of stock

The distinctive vibrant green of these watermelon chevron beads is enticing to the eye. These beads derive their name from the characteristic green...

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$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads from Nigeria
Sold out
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads from Nigeria

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
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads
Sold out
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads

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
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
Sold out
Yellow & Green Watermelon Chevron Beads #13421
Sold out
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00

Yellow & Green Watermelon Chevron Beads #13421

Out of stock

The distinctive pattern of these watermelon chevron beads is bright and cheerful. This unusual variety of chevron beads has a unique pattern. Old T...

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$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
Sold out
Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads #15846
Sold out
$279.00 - $279.00
$279.00
$279.00
$279.00 - $279.00
$279.00

Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads #15846

Out of stock

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

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$279.00 - $279.00
$279.00
$279.00
$279.00 - $279.00
$279.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads
Sold out
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads

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
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
Sold out
Turquoise Round Nigerian Olombo Padre Beads (8mm)
Sold out
$17.00
$17.00 - $17.00
$17.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Turquoise Round Nigerian Olombo Padre Beads (8mm)

Out of stock

These round turquoise padre beads are found in Nigeria, West Africa. Such beads been been traded in African since the late 1800 early 1900's.The be...

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$17.00
$17.00 - $17.00
$17.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
Sold out
Red Antique Venetian Skunk Beads (Stretch Bracelet)
Sold out
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00

Red Antique Venetian Skunk Beads (Stretch Bracelet)

Out of stock

Beautiful old eye red skunk trade beads. These beads have traveled at least three continents and were originally traded in the 1800s. Each bead is ...

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$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
Sold out
Antique Yellow Vaseline Beads (11x12mm)
Sold out
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00

Antique Yellow Vaseline Beads (11x12mm)

Out of stock

There's more to these yellow glass beads than meets the eye. Originally created in Czechoslovakia, these antique vaseline beads will have traveled ...

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$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
$135.00
$135.00 - $135.00
$135.00
Sold out
Old Mixed Vaseline Beads #13037
Sold out
$95.00 - $95.00
$95.00
$95.00
$95.00 - $95.00
$95.00

Old Mixed Vaseline Beads #13037

Out of stock

Admire this rare colorful medley of antique, mixed style Czech Vaseline Trade beads. Vaseline beads have been traded in Africa for many decades. Li...

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$95.00 - $95.00
$95.00
$95.00
$95.00 - $95.00
$95.00
Sold out
Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads (50 Inch Strand)
Sold out
$595.00 - $595.00
$595.00
$595.00
$595.00 - $595.00
$595.00

Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads (50 Inch Strand)

Out of stock

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

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$595.00 - $595.00
$595.00
$595.00
$595.00 - $595.00
$595.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads

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 ha...

View full details
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12517
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12517

Out of stock

Looking for a truly unique strand of antique mixed trade beads? Then look no further. This beautiful strand of old african trade beads contains a m...

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$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
Sold out
Old Russian Blue Glass Beads (6-11mm)
Sold out
$285.00 - $285.00
$285.00
$285.00
$285.00 - $285.00
$285.00

Old Russian Blue Glass Beads (6-11mm)

Out of stock

Among the most celebrated of faceted beads, Russian Blues derive their name from their involvement in the Russian fur trade of the Pacific Northwes...

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$285.00 - $285.00
$285.00
$285.00
$285.00 - $285.00
$285.00
Sold out
Mixed Vintage Christmas Beads (Bolgatanga Medley)
Sold out
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00

Mixed Vintage Christmas Beads (Bolgatanga Medley)

Out of stock

Christmas beads comprise of a special blend of choice beads created in former Czechoslovakia for use in Africa. Also known as "African love beads,"...

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$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13818
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13818

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 ha...

View full details
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Sold out
Vintage Czech Black Dogtooth Beads (6mm)
$67.00 - $67.00
$67.00
$67.00
$67.00 - $67.00
$67.00

Vintage Czech Black Dogtooth Beads (6mm)

Only 4 left!

These indented black beads are a rare variety of vintage Czech beads. The serrated bark-like surface is somewhat reminiscent of Black & White V...

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$67.00 - $67.00
$67.00
$67.00
$67.00 - $67.00
$67.00
Blue Opate Antique European Trade Beads (19x24mm)
Sold out
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00

Blue Opate Antique European Trade Beads (19x24mm)

Out of stock

Admire this rare and highly collectable strand of old European Glass Trade Beads. This authentic stand of beads has graced many owners and traveled...

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$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
Sold out
Green Brown Striped Watermelon Chevron Beads
Sold out
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00
$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00

Green Brown Striped Watermelon Chevron Beads

Out of stock

Checkout these beautiful chevron trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00
$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00
Sold out