Skip to content
Free Shipping on US Orders $99 and Above!
Free Shipping on US Orders $99+!
About Us Wholesale Reviews Reorder Wishlist

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.

Filters

$
$
Antique Black Skunk Venetian Eye Beads
$249.00 - $249.00
$249.00
$249.00
$249.00 - $249.00
$249.00

Antique Black Skunk Venetian Eye Beads

Only 1 left!

Beautiful strand of old skunk eye trade beads. This strand has traveled at least three continents and was originally traded in the 1800's. This par...

View full details
$249.00 - $249.00
$249.00
$249.00
$249.00 - $249.00
$249.00
Antique Black Skunk Venetian Eye Trade Bead (Single bead) Sold out
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00
$5.00
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00

Antique Black Skunk Venetian Eye Trade Bead (Single bead)

Out of stock

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

View full details
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00
$5.00
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00
Sold out
Hot Deal: Mixed Black And Yellow Java Glass Trade Beads Sold out
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$23.03
$23.03 - $23.03
$23.03

Hot Deal: Mixed Black And Yellow Java Glass Trade Beads

Out of stock

Hot Deal Special! We are offering a limited number of strands at BIG discounts. Offer may not be combined with any other discounts. Some strands ma...

View full details
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$23.03
$23.03 - $23.03
$23.03
Sold out
Fancy Red Millefiori-Style Krobo Beads Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Fancy Red Millefiori-Style Krobo Beads

Out of stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain in Ghana, West Africa. Many designs of Krobo beads are patte...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Red White Heart Beads (6mm)
Sold out
$11.00 - $11.00
$11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
$11.00

Red White Heart Beads (6mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of translucent red white hearts! The strand measures approximately 24", with beads measuring about between 5-6mm in...

View full details
$11.00 - $11.00
$11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
$11.00
Sold out
Special Medley of Glass Mixed Trade Beads
Sold out
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50

Special Medley of Glass Mixed Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look a this great medley of glass trade beads! These beads have been collected from various West African countries including Nigeria, Ghana,...

View full details
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
Sold out
Contemporary Medley of Sandcast Christmas Beads
Sold out
$5.00
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99

Contemporary Medley of Sandcast Christmas Beads

Out of stock

Admire this colorful strand of glass Christmas beads. Also sometimes identified as Czechovally beads, strands of mixed beads such as these may deri...

View full details
$5.00
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99
Sold out
Vintage Kakamba Prosser Beads (10mm)
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00

Vintage Kakamba Prosser Beads (10mm)

Only 1 left!

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

View full details
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
Vintage Kakamba Prosser Beads (13mm) (Long Strand)
Sold out
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00

Vintage Kakamba Prosser Beads (13mm) (Long Strand)

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...

View full details
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
Sold out
Jumbo Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #1813
Sold out
$1,575.00 - $1,575.00
$1,575.00
$1,575.00
$1,575.00 - $1,575.00
$1,575.00

Jumbo Mixed Antique Venetian Trade Beads #1813

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...

View full details
$1,575.00 - $1,575.00
$1,575.00
$1,575.00
$1,575.00 - $1,575.00
$1,575.00
Sold out
Hidden Gems: Graduated Fancy Black Java Trade Beads Necklace
Sold out
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Hidden Gems: Graduated Fancy Black Java Trade Beads Necklace

Out of stock

Discover Hidden Gems – unique beads with a story to tell! These one-of-a-kind strands may have slight imperfections, a few missing or broken beads,...

View full details
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
Sold out
Hidden Gems: Blue Java Glass Polka Dot Skunk Beads
Sold out
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Hidden Gems: Blue Java Glass Polka Dot Skunk Beads

Out of stock

Discover Hidden Gems – unique beads with a story to tell! These one-of-a-kind strands may have slight imperfections, a few missing or broken beads,...

View full details
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Sold out
Hidden Gems: Black & White Java Glass Skunk Beads
Sold out
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Hidden Gems: Black & White Java Glass Skunk Beads

Out of stock

Discover Hidden Gems – unique beads with a story to tell! These one-of-a-kind strands may have slight imperfections, a few missing or broken beads,...

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Sold out
Hidden Gems: Black Polka Dot Java Skunk Beads
Sold out
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Hidden Gems: Black Polka Dot Java Skunk Beads

Out of stock

Discover Hidden Gems – unique beads with a story to tell! These one-of-a-kind strands may have slight imperfections, a few missing or broken beads,...

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Sold out
Hidden Gems: Blue Round Java Millefiori Beads
Sold out
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Hidden Gems: Blue Round Java Millefiori Beads

Out of stock

Discover Hidden Gems – unique beads with a story to tell! These one-of-a-kind strands may have slight imperfections, a few missing or broken beads,...

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Sold out
Hidden Gems: Java Glass Millefiori Beads
Sold out
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00
$5.00
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00

Hidden Gems: Java Glass Millefiori Beads

Out of stock

Discover Hidden Gems – unique beads with a story to tell! These one-of-a-kind strands may have slight imperfections, a few missing or broken beads,...

View full details
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00
$5.00
$5.00 - $5.00
$5.00
Sold out
Vintage Fulani Rainbow Glass Seed Bead Necklace
Sold out
$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00
$125.00
$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00

Vintage Fulani Rainbow Glass Seed Bead Necklace

Out of stock

Unique vintage necklace made from a mix of different color seed beads. Pieces such as this are worn by traditional tribes people of Nigeria. Likely...

View full details
$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00
$125.00
$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00
Sold out
Old Turquoise Blue Nigerian Padre Beads
$59.00 - $59.00
$59.00
$59.00
$59.00 - $59.00
$59.00

Old Turquoise Blue Nigerian Padre Beads

Only 9 left!

Hard to find rounded padre beads from West Africa. Old padres like these are hard to find and in short supply. Individual beads measure 5-7 x 8-9mm...

View full details
$59.00 - $59.00
$59.00
$59.00
$59.00 - $59.00
$59.00
Rare Medley Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads
$1,595.00 - $1,595.00
$1,595.00
$1,595.00
$1,595.00 - $1,595.00
$1,595.00

Rare Medley Matching Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

Only 1 left!

This extraordinary 38" strand features approximately 75 matching spherical and oval-shaped Venetian millefiori trade beads—an exceptionally rare fi...

View full details
$1,595.00 - $1,595.00
$1,595.00
$1,595.00
$1,595.00 - $1,595.00
$1,595.00
Old White Dutch Dogon Trade Beads
Sold out
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00

Old White Dutch Dogon Trade Beads

Out of stock

Great strand of old round-shaped wound beads also known as Dutch Dogons from the African Trade. These rare beads truly show the wear of time and we...

View full details
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
$265.00
$265.00 - $265.00
$265.00
Sold out
Hexagonal Medley Multicolor Mali Wedding Beads
$89.00 - $89.00
$89.00
$89.00
$89.00 - $89.00
$89.00

Hexagonal Medley Multicolor Mali Wedding Beads

Only 3 left!

Admire the vibrant tones of these vintage Mali Wedding Beads! Found in West Africa, they are traditionally worn by the Fulani people of Mali. Origi...

View full details
$89.00 - $89.00
$89.00
$89.00
$89.00 - $89.00
$89.00
Ultra Rare Russian Blue Trade Beads #16562
Sold out
$1,145.00 - $1,145.00
$1,145.00
$1,145.00
$1,145.00 - $1,145.00
$1,145.00

Ultra Rare Russian Blue Trade Beads #16562

Out of stock

Among 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 details
$1,145.00 - $1,145.00
$1,145.00
$1,145.00
$1,145.00 - $1,145.00
$1,145.00
Sold out
Matching Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00
$215.00
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00

Matching Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads

Only 2 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
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00
$215.00
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00
Antique Skunk Eye and Rare Venetian Fancy Bead Medley
$767.00 - $767.00
$767.00
$767.00
$767.00 - $767.00
$767.00

Antique Skunk Eye and Rare Venetian Fancy Bead Medley

Only 1 left!

This mixed strand of old Venetian beads contains an interesting assortment of premium beads from the African Trade. Rare varieties represented incl...

View full details
$767.00 - $767.00
$767.00
$767.00
$767.00 - $767.00
$767.00