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


Antique Venetian - African Trade Beads - Millefiori Italian glass
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Antique Venetian - African Trade Beads - Millefiori Italian glass:
$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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Strand of FANCY Antique Venetian African Trade Beads   CC13  Bin B7 picture

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Impressive Antique Venetian Mixed old Chevron Bead Strand Old African Trade Bead picture

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ANTIQUE VENETIAN MILLEFIORI AFRICAN TRADE BEADS picture

ANTIQUE VENETIAN MILLEFIORI AFRICAN TRADE BEADS

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Antique Vintage Matching Rectangular Venetian Millefiori African Trade Beads picture

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Venetian Feather Beads Strand Antique African Trade Beads   CC18  Bin B7 picture

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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

$48.00



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