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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.
Admire this unique strand of authentic Venetian Trade Beads. Predominantly produced on the island of Murano, beads such as these were produced for ...
View full detailsFabulous 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 ...
View full detailsAdmire this rare shape of antique, cornerless cube Czech Vaseline Trade beads. More commonly found in the saucer shape, Vaseline beads have been tr...
View full detailsAdmire this unique strand of authentic Venetian Trade Beads. This strand includes multiple rare designs including blue flower beads, white dotted e...
View full detailsAdmire this unique strand of old European Trade Beads. Likely of Venetian or Dutch provenance, beads such as these were produced for centuries by s...
View full detailsAdmire this unique strand of authentic antique King Beads. Often displayed as a symbol of status, beads such as these derive their name through the...
View full detailsThese old glass beads are likely of Venetian origin. The well worn glass has graced many owners and passed through many hands. Old glass beads in t...
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 detailsThis strand of interlocking Czech glass beads is called "SNAKE" trade beads because of its similarity to the snake vertebrae. They date back from t...
View full detailsCheckout these beautiful and unusual old Ethiopian glass beads known as "tomato beads". The strand measures 26", with beads measuring approximatel...
View full detailsThere's more to these opaque glass beads than meets the eye. Originally created in Czechoslovakia, these antique vaseline beads will have traveled ...
View full detailsThese vintage cylinder-shaped beads are most often found in Nigeria and Ghana, West Africa. Commonly used to make waist beads jewelry, each strand ...
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 detailsThis strand of interlocking Czech glass beads is called "SNAKE" trade beads because of its similarity to the snake vertebrae. They date back from...
View full detailsTake a look at these vintage Ethiopian copper beads from Africa. These beads look older than our standard copper beads. Each bead is handmade indiv...
View full detailsBeautiful strand of vintage brass tube beads from Ethiopia!. Beads are 8-9mm long with a diameter of approx. 3mm. The strand is approximately 26 ...
View full detailsThis exceptional strand of antique wood prayer beads was in the Amhara region of Northern Ethiopia. This type of bead is typically worn in the rur...
View full detailsTake a look at these Ethiopian White Metal beads from Ethiopia. Each bead is handmade individually. The strand is approximately 26" long, with bead...
View full detailsCheck out this set of unusual telsum beads from the northern region Ethiopia. Telsum is a unique style of bead-making that is particular to Ethiopi...
View full detailsAdmire this strand of artisanal Ethiopian white metal beads. Individually fashioned by an expert craftsmen, these bicone beads measure 12x16mm with...
View full detailsAdmire this strand of artisanal Ethiopian white metal beads. Individually fashioned by an expert craftsmen, these bicone beads measure 15x21mm with...
View full detailsTake a look at this great strand of vintage brass beads from Ethiopia. Each strand is 16" inches long with approximately 28 beads measuring 13-15 x...
View full detailsThis exceptional strand of antique wood prayer beads was in the Amhara region of Northern Ethiopia. This type of bead is typically worn in the rur...
View full detailsThis exceptional strand of antique wood prayer beads was in the Amhara region of Northern Ethiopia. This type of bead is typically worn in the rur...
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