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Skunk Beads

  • Black Skunk Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00

    Black Skunk Beads (10mm)

    Out of stock

    A beautiful strand of black and white skunk beads, made to resemble the older Eye beads produced in Italy in the 1800 early 1900. The idea of the ...

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    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00
    $25.00 - $25.00
    $25.00
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  • Blue & White Antique Venetian Skunk Trade Beads (45" Strand) - The Bead Chest
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    $599.00 - $599.00
    $599.00
    $599.00
    $599.00 - $599.00
    $599.00

    Blue & White Antique Venetian Skunk Trade Beads (45" 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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    $599.00 - $599.00
    $599.00
    $599.00
    $599.00 - $599.00
    $599.00
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  • Jumbo Painted Krobo Glass Beads (Skunk Design) - The Bead Chest
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    $34.50
    $34.50 - $34.50
    $34.50
    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00

    Jumbo Painted Krobo Glass Beads (Skunk Design)

    Only 10 left!

    Admire these unique and unusually large painted glass beads made by artisans from the Krobo tribe in Ghana. These special beads resemble traditiona...

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    $34.50
    $34.50 - $34.50
    $34.50
    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00
    Save 16% Save %
  • Black Rectangular Polka Dot Skunk Beads (9x19mm) - The Bead Chest
    $26.80 - $26.80
    $26.80
    $26.80
    $26.80 - $26.80
    $26.80

    Black Rectangular Polka Dot Skunk Beads (9x19mm)

    in stock

    A beautiful strand of black and white skunk beads less common rectangular shape, made to resemble the older Eye beads produced in Italy in the 1800...

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    $26.80 - $26.80
    $26.80
    $26.80
    $26.80 - $26.80
    $26.80
  • Black Skunk Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00

    Black Skunk Beads (15mm)

    Out of stock

    A beautiful strand of black and white skunk beads, made to resemble the older Eye beads produced in Italy in the 1800 early 1900. The idea of the ...

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    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00
    $35.00 - $35.00
    $35.00
    Sold out
  • Antique West African Round Venetian Skunk Eye Beads - The Bead Chest
    $375.00 - $375.00
    $375.00
    $375.00
    $375.00 - $375.00
    $375.00

    Antique West African Round Venetian Skunk Eye Beads

    Only 1 left!

    Old Trade beads such as these are as beautiful in their design as they are exceptional in their craftsmanship. Venetian glass beads were known for ...

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    $375.00 - $375.00
    $375.00
    $375.00
    $375.00 - $375.00
    $375.00
  • Premium Red Venetian Skunk Eye Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00

    Premium Red Venetian Skunk Eye Beads (12mm)

    Out of stock

    Take a look at these beautiful old eye red skunk trade beads. This strand is exceptionally high quality. If you pay attention to the finish you wil...

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    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
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  • Red Antique Venetian Skunk Beads (Stretch Bracelet) - The Bead Chest
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00

    Red Antique Venetian Skunk Beads (Stretch Bracelet)

    Only 7 left!

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

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    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
  • Antique Venetian Rectangular Skunk Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00

    Antique Venetian Rectangular Skunk Trade Beads

    Only 7 left!

    Commonly referred to as "skunk beads", these beautiful African trade beads are of Venetian origin. More commonly found in a spherical shape, the re...

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    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00
  • Antique Black Venetian Skunk Eye Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00

    Antique Black Venetian Skunk Eye Beads

    Out of stock

    Old Trade beads such as these are as beautiful in their design as they are exceptional in their craftsmanship. Venetian glass beads were known for ...

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    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    Sold out
  • Antique Black Venetian Skunk Eye Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00

    Antique Black Venetian Skunk Eye Beads

    Out of stock

    Old Trade beads such as these are as beautiful in their design as they are exceptional in their craftsmanship. Venetian glass beads were known for ...

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    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    Sold out
  • Old Black & White Skunk Eye Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
    $525.00 - $525.00
    $525.00
    $525.00
    $525.00 - $525.00
    $525.00

    Old Black & White Skunk Eye Beads (Long Strand)

    Only 1 left!

    These exceptional black Skunk Eye beads are a beauty to behold. Old trade beads such as these originate in Venice, Italy where they were produced a...

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    $525.00 - $525.00
    $525.00
    $525.00
    $525.00 - $525.00
    $525.00
  • Premium Red Venetian Skunk Eye Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $259.00 - $259.00
    $259.00
    $259.00
    $259.00 - $259.00
    $259.00

    Premium Red Venetian Skunk Eye Beads (12mm)

    Out of stock

    Take a look at these beautiful old eye red skunk trade beads. This strand is exceptionally high quality. If you pay attention to the finish you wil...

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    $259.00 - $259.00
    $259.00
    $259.00
    $259.00 - $259.00
    $259.00
    Sold out
  • Vintage Red Padre Prosser Skunk Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00

    Vintage Red Padre Prosser Skunk Beads (12mm)

    in stock

    Likely intended to resemble older Venetian Skunk Eye Beads, these unusual glass beads may have been made in the glass workshops of former Czechoslo...

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    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
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    $49.00
  • Skunk Elbow Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    Skunk Elbow Krobo Powder Glass Beads

    in stock

    A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain (Ghana, West Africa), reproducing old Venetian FANCY trade b...

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    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00
    $12.00 - $12.00
    $12.00
  • Red Venetian-Style Skunk Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00

    Red Venetian-Style Skunk Beads (14mm)

    Out of stock

    Take a look at this pretty strand of Red & White Skunk beads, resembling traditional Venetian beads which are used in Africa for trade. The str...

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    $39.00
    $39.00 - $39.00
    $39.00
    $29.00
    $29.00 - $29.00
    $29.00
    Sold out
  • Premium Purple Skunk Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $15.00 - $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    $15.00

    Premium Purple Skunk 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...

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    $15.00 - $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00
    $15.00 - $15.00
    $15.00
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  • Antique Red Skunk Venetian Eye Trade Bead (Loose bead) - The Bead Chest
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    $3.97 - $3.97
    $3.97
    $3.97
    $3.97 - $3.97
    $3.97

    Antique Red Skunk Venetian Eye Trade Bead (Loose bead)

    Out of stock

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

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    $3.97 - $3.97
    $3.97
    $3.97
    $3.97 - $3.97
    $3.97
    Sold out
  • Black Antique Venetian Skunk Beads (Stretch Bracelet) - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00

    Black Antique Venetian Skunk Beads (Stretch Bracelet)

    Out of stock

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

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    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00
    $49.00 - $49.00
    $49.00
    Sold out
  • Black Antique Skunk Eye Beads - The Bead Chest
    Sold out
    $189.00 - $189.00
    $189.00
    $189.00
    $189.00 - $189.00
    $189.00

    Black Antique Skunk Eye Beads

    Out of stock

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

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    $189.00 - $189.00
    $189.00
    $189.00
    $189.00 - $189.00
    $189.00
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  • Black Antique Skunk Eye Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00

    Black Antique Skunk Eye Beads

    Out of stock

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

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    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00
    Sold out
  • Antique White Skunk Venetian Eye Trade Bead (Loose bead) - The Bead Chest
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    $4.50 - $4.50
    $4.50
    $4.50
    $4.50 - $4.50
    $4.50

    Antique White Skunk Venetian Eye Trade Bead (Loose bead)

    Out of stock

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

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    $4.50 - $4.50
    $4.50
    $4.50
    $4.50 - $4.50
    $4.50
    Sold out
  • Red Antique Skunk Eye Beads - The Bead Chest
    Save 6% Save %
    $165.00
    $165.00 - $165.00
    $165.00
    $155.00
    $155.00 - $155.00
    $155.00

    Red Antique Skunk Eye Beads

    in stock

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

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    $165.00
    $165.00 - $165.00
    $165.00
    $155.00
    $155.00 - $155.00
    $155.00
    Save 6% Save %
  • White Antique Venetian Skunk Eye Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
    Save 3% Save %
    $175.00
    $175.00 - $175.00
    $175.00
    $169.00
    $169.00 - $169.00
    $169.00

    White Antique Venetian Skunk Eye Trade Beads

    in stock

    Take a look at this beautiful strand of old eye trade beads. This strand has traveled at least three continents and was originally traded in the 1...

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    $175.00
    $175.00 - $175.00
    $175.00
    $169.00
    $169.00 - $169.00
    $169.00
    Save 3% Save %
The term “Skunk Bead” is often used in reference to any bead with a striped or spotted finish, however, not all such beads can be classified as “Trade Beads”. True Skunk Trade Beads are usually old and worn, often featuring tell-tale signs of age with characteristic pitting around the threading hole. Another give-away is coloration; African Skunk Beads almost always featuring a combination of black, red and white detailing. Striped Skunk Beads are considered rare by purists, and are generally more expensive than their spotted counterparts. Skunk Beads are one of the earliest types of Venetian Trade Beads to be mass produced exclusively for trade with tribes along Africa's East Coast, manufactured in the North East of Italy from as early as the 1730's. They found their way to Mali on the vessels of ivory-seeking merchants some time around the mid Century. Beads have long been a medium of self expression among Mali tribespeople, and much like Chevrons, these exquisite spotted beads were quickly adopted by leaders as symbols of their power and wealth. African Skunk Beads are modernly referred to as “Eye Beads” - a name which derives from the distinctive white spots on the outer skin, which are created by applying molten white glass to a cooled wound base. Skunk Beads were, and continue to be produced using the old Venetian marvering technique, which involves winding molten glass around a long steel tube and then rolling it across a flat surface to create a rounded shape. As you will notice from the many examples here at The Bead Chest, authentic Venetian Skunk Beads are rarely, if ever, uniform in shape and finish!