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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.
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 detailsAmong the most celebrated of faceted beads, Russian Blues derive their romantic name from their involvement in the Russian fur trade of the Pacific...
View full detailsWOW! Take a look at this unusual strand of tabular-shaped Venetian Trade Beads. The strand consists of several exceptionally rare varieties of bead...
View full detailsCheckout these beautiful chevron trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...
View full detailsBright, beautifully colored glass trade beads with an occasional plastic spacer bead. Originally made in southern Spain and Venice especially for t...
View full detailsThis special strand of old trade beads was found in West Africa, but likely manufactured during the early 20th century by Venetian production. Each...
View full detailsTake a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...
View full detailsBeautiful strand of multi color kakamba prosser beads. Each strand of kakamba is unique and you will receive a beautiful of these gorgeous orange ...
View full detailsThis strand of interlocking Czech glass beads is called "SNAKE" trade beads because of its similarity to the snake vertebrae. They date back fro...
View full detailsTake a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...
View full detailsHere we have a beautiful strand of King beads. Strands like this are hard to come across. They are handmade of the highest quality glass. Each bead...
View full detailsCheckout this amazing strand of antique blue onion trade beads. The long strand measures 34", and each bead is approximately 12mm in length by 9mm...
View full detailsTake a look at this great strand of beautiful chevron trade beads. Each strand is 23 inches long with approximately 56 beads measuring 9-11 x 7-10m...
View full detailsThese unusual black glass beads are a rare style of Black Czech Bead. Prosser beads such as these are made by pressing glass in a mold to form a de...
View full detailsThis special strand of old trade beads was found in West Africa, but likely manufactured during the early 20th century by Venetian production. Each...
View full detailsTake a look at these beautiful translucent green padre beads. Made from Czech glass, padre beads such as these have been traded in African since as...
View full detailsChristmas beads comprise of a special blend of choice beads created in former Czechoslovakia for use in Africa. Also known as "African love beads,"...
View full detailsTake a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...
View full detailsCheckout these beautiful Venetian trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...
View full detailsTake a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...
View full detailsThese unusual vintage glass beads have a unique pearl-like finish. Found in Nigeria but likely a rare variety of Czech Prosser beads, these beautie...
View full detailsYou are looking at a beautiful strand of rose, round Millefiori beads. Colorful and vibrant, these beads would make a great addition to any jewelry...
View full detailsTake a look at these beautiful jade glass padre beads. Padre beads have been traded in African as early as the late 1800 early 1900's. The beads a...
View full detailsSnake beads are vintage African trade beads originally produced in Czechoslovakia and exported to West Africa. The shape of these beads is inspired...
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