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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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Yellow Jacket Venetian Aja Beads (5mm) Sold out
$120.00 - $120.00
$120.00
$120.00
$120.00 - $120.00
$120.00

Yellow Jacket Venetian Aja Beads (5mm)

Out of stock

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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$120.00 - $120.00
$120.00
$120.00
$120.00 - $120.00
$120.00
Sold out
Antique Black Hebron Kano Beads #12454 Sold out
$395.00 - $395.00
$395.00
$395.00
$395.00 - $395.00
$395.00

Antique Black Hebron Kano Beads #12454

Out of stock

Take a look at this amazing strand of rare black Hebron beads, brought here from Africa and are sometimes referred to as "Kano Beads". They are sai...

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$395.00 - $395.00
$395.00
$395.00
$395.00 - $395.00
$395.00
Sold out
Old Ethiopian Orange Tomato Beads (20x16mm) Sold out
$105.00 - $105.00
$105.00
$105.00
$105.00 - $105.00
$105.00

Old Ethiopian Orange Tomato Beads (20x16mm)

Out of stock

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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$105.00 - $105.00
$105.00
$105.00
$105.00 - $105.00
$105.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Aja Beads #13406 Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Antique Venetian Aja Beads #13406

Out of stock

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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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Aja Beads #13407
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Antique Venetian Aja Beads #13407

Out of stock

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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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Aja Beads #13408
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Antique Venetian Aja Beads #13408

Out of stock

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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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Old Yellow & Orange Cylinder Tomato Beads
Sold out
$129.00
$129.00 - $129.00
$129.00
$109.00
$109.00 - $109.00
$109.00

Old Yellow & Orange Cylinder Tomato Beads

Out of stock

Wow! These red and yellow tomato beads are a beauty and tough to find. Like their cousins the rounded tomato beads, these old cylinder-shaped beads...

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$129.00
$129.00 - $129.00
$129.00
$109.00
$109.00 - $109.00
$109.00
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Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12524
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12524

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
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12514
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12514

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
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12527
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12527

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
Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12505
Sold out
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
$79.00

Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #12505

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
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13811
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13811

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...

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$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
Sold out
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13825
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13825

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
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13835
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13835

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
Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13837
Sold out
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00
$149.00
$149.00 - $149.00
$149.00

Antique Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads #13837

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
White Antique Venetian Skunk Trade Beads (40" Strand)
Sold out
$249.00 - $249.00
$249.00
$249.00
$249.00 - $249.00
$249.00

White Antique Venetian Skunk Trade Beads (40" Strand)

Out of stock

Commonly referred to as "skunk beads", these beautiful African trade beads are of Venetian origin. Beads such as these are said to have been made i...

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$249.00 - $249.00
$249.00
$249.00
$249.00 - $249.00
$249.00
Sold out
Tiny Green White Heart Beads (2mm)
Sold out
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Tiny Green White Heart Beads (2mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of red color white heart seed beads! White hearts derive their name from the inner core of opaque white glass that i...

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Sold out
Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads #15807
Sold out
$279.00 - $279.00
$279.00
$279.00
$279.00 - $279.00
$279.00

Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads #15807

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 Dogon & Moon Bead Medley
Sold out
$275.00 - $275.00
$275.00
$275.00
$275.00 - $275.00
$275.00

Antique Dogon & Moon Bead Medley

Out of stock

This unusual strand is comprised of both Blue Dogon Beads and Translucent Moon Beads. These are a more rare variety of Dogon bead that is opaque an...

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$275.00 - $275.00
$275.00
$275.00
$275.00 - $275.00
$275.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique African Trade Beads #13143
Sold out
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00

Mixed Antique African Trade Beads #13143

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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$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique African Trade Beads #13140
Sold out
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00

Mixed Antique African Trade Beads #13140

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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$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
Sold out
Mixed Antique African Trade Beads #13139
Sold out
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00

Mixed Antique African Trade Beads #13139

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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$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
$145.00
Sold out
Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads
Sold out
$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00
$185.00
$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00

Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori 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...

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$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00
$185.00
$185.00 - $185.00
$185.00
Sold out
Vintage Kakamba Prosser Beads (10mm) #13689
Sold out
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Vintage Kakamba Prosser Beads (10mm) #13689

Out of stock

The unique look of kakamba beads is easily recognized among the beads of Africa. Originally produced in former Czechoslovakia, these beads are made...

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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
Sold out