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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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Antique Ethiopian Transparent Blue Opate Trade Beads
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Fabulous strand of old wound trade beads also known as Opate Beads from the African Trade. Some of the earliest hand wound beads traded in Africa w...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Yellow Czech Glass Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Cylindrical Czech Glass Beads
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Brown Cylindrical Czech Glass Beads
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Striped Yellow Brown & Green Czech Glass Beads
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Hidden Gems: Red Cylindrical Vintage Czech Glass Beads
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Hidden Gems: Peach Orange Round Vintage Czech Glass Beads
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Hidden Gems: Round Venetian Style Millefiori Beads
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Weathered Green Heart Beads
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Cylindrical Blue Czech Glass Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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
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Hidden Gems: Mango Orange Vintage Czech Interlocking Snake Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: 6 Strand Bundle: Vintage Czech Glass Beads
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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,...
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Hidden Gems: Fancy Java Venetian Style Glass Beads
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Hidden Gems: Vintage Red Round Czech Glass Beads
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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,...
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