Old Yellow Venetian Trade Beads

Shaped like a yellow watermelon, these authentic Venetian Trade Beads are found primarily in Ethiopia in East Africa. While the exact age of these beads is not known they were likely produced for export to Africa during the 19th century for trade with the local people. Each bead has a unique worn character and will show signs of age due to the many hands it has passed through. Individual beads will vary in size between 8-12mm wide and 10-12mm diameter with approximately 58 beads on each 28" strand. Each strand is unique and may vary slightly from strand pictured. Beads are strung on raffia straw.