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Antique Venetian African Trade Beads - Millefiori Italian glass + silver For Sale


Antique Venetian African Trade Beads - Millefiori Italian glass + silver
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Antique Venetian African Trade Beads - Millefiori Italian glass + silver:
$15.00

Antique Vintage Venetian/African Trade Beads


History of Trade Beads

People started using trade beadswhen trade routes were established and there was a need for currency. However,most of the trade beads in the market today were used even while there wereother currencies. These were used by Europeans to trade with people who did notknow about currency such as Africans and Native American Indians.

InAfrica, trade beads were used in West Africa by Europeans who got them fromVenice, Holland, and Bohemia. They used millions of beads to trade withAfricans for slaves, services, and goods such as palm oil, gold, and ivory. Thetrade with Africans was so vital that some of the beads were made specificallyfor Africans. These includeMillefiori trade beads,Chevron trade beads, striped melons trade beads, feathertrade beads, and eye beads. Other trade beads reached Africa from India throughArab Traders. The Venetians dominated production oftrade beads, especially those used in Africa.

The trade was successful becauseAfricans placed a lot of intrinsic value on decorative items. They used thesebeads as a currency, as a measure of wealth, as a store of wealth, asdecorative items, and to show status in society. Trade beads used in Africaalso go by the name slave beads because they were exchanged for slaves. Thiswas between the sixteenth and the twentieth century.

One of a Kind!




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Rare Antique Venetian Millefiori Beads Beaded Necklace picture

Rare Antique Venetian Millefiori Beads Beaded Necklace

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Antique Venetian Trade Italian Multi Color Glass Unique 14.8 mm Beaded Necklace picture

Antique Venetian Trade Italian Multi Color Glass Unique 14.8 mm Beaded Necklace

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12 old antique venetian cylindrical millefiori african trade beads #4970 picture

12 old antique venetian cylindrical millefiori african trade beads #4970

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Antique Style Venetian Chevron Blue Glass Beads Strands 7.5mm picture

Antique Style Venetian Chevron Blue Glass Beads Strands 7.5mm

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Antique,vintage,GORGEOUS VENETIAN FOIL GLASS BEADS, LARGE LOT -/+90- 100 TOTAL picture

Antique,vintage,GORGEOUS VENETIAN FOIL GLASS BEADS, LARGE LOT -/+90- 100 TOTAL

$49.95



Antique Venetian - African Trade Beads - Millefiori Italian glass picture

Antique Venetian - African Trade Beads - Millefiori Italian glass

$15.00



Antique Venetian Style old red white heart Skunk beads African Necklace picture

Antique Venetian Style old red white heart Skunk beads African Necklace

$65.00



Antique Venetian White Heart And Blue Chevron Trade Beads Necklace picture

Antique Venetian White Heart And Blue Chevron Trade Beads Necklace

$51.00



Images © photo12.com-Pierre-Jean Chalençon
A Traveling Exhibition from Russell Etling Company (c) 2011