Venice & Bohemia
Trade beads, or slave beads, were decorative glass beads made and used between the 16th and 20th century as currency in exchange for goods, services and slaves (hence the name). They were made in Venice and Bohemia for European explorers, and then traders across Africa. These became so popular that countless tons of these beads were used as ballast in slave/trade ships for the outbound trip. Human cargo and ivory, gold and other goods filled the return trips. Good specimens are increasingly more difficult to find, as they are no longer produced in such quantity. Mine have travelled across continents and traded in many hands for more than a century, so dings and chips are part of their story.
I lived in Venice for a while, working with these beads in the shop of a Venetian collector, where I had access to these antique beauties. I even found some on the (private) beaches near the furnaces on Murano where modern beads are made.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_beads
Showing all 31 results
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Ancient Agate Trade Beads Necklace ‘MARCO’ N630
$890.91 AUD Add to cart -
Bohemian Pearls Crystal Chandelier Drop Necklace N618
$681.82 AUD Add to cart -
Himalayan Rock Crystal Bohemian glass gold necklace N585
$2,000.00 AUD Add to cart -
Lapis Gold Rock Crystal Necklace “ADANA” N648
$1,072.73 AUD Add to cart -
Murano Glass Turquoise Orange Necklace N747
$199.09 AUD Add to cart -
Rock Crystal Trade Beads Necklace “QAZVIN” N654
$954.55 AUD Add to cart -
Vaseline Trade Beads Silver Necklace N763
$2,181.82 AUD Add to cart -
Amber Chevron Silver Coral Necklace N545
$3,181.82 AUD Add to cart -
Amber Silver Venetian Necklace N243
$590.91 AUD Add to cart -
Amber Silver Venetian Trade Necklace N542
$1,500.00 AUD Add to cart -
Ancient Rock Crystal Melon Necklace N233
$1,363.64 AUD Add to cart -
Green Glass Faux Coral Painted Pendant Necklace N466
$281.82 AUD Add to cart -
Knotted Strand Venetian Trade Beads N239
$390.91 AUD Add to cart -
Modern Murano Glass Gold Foil Necklace N282
$309.09 AUD Add to cart -
Modern Murano Glass Gold Necklace N280
$336.36 AUD Add to cart -
Modern Murano Trade Beads Necklace N188
$318.18 AUD Add to cart -
Moroccan Amber Silver Pendant Necklace N518
$718.18 AUD Add to cart -
Multi Strand Trade Bead Necklace N216
$290.91 AUD Add to cart -
Murano Glass Bead Silver Necklace N414
$318.18 AUD Add to cart -
Murano Glass Pearls Gold Earrings E511a
$100.00 AUD Add to cart -
Ottoman Silver Coins Amber Necklace N520
$981.82 AUD Add to cart -
Red Bohemian Egg Bead Necklace N364
$436.36 AUD Add to cart -
Roman Glass Silver Head Excavated Beads Necklace N248
$4,363.64 AUD Add to cart -
Rosewood Victorian Locket Quartz Necklace N264
$500.00 AUD Add to cart -
Silver Amber Agate Trade Beads Necklace N543
$772.73 AUD Add to cart -
Tiznit Enamel Pendant Amber Trade Bead Necklace N161
$590.91 AUD Add to cart -
Trade Beads Jade Wood Multi Strand Necklace N294
$318.18 AUD Add to cart -
Tuareg Pendant Amber Jatim Necklace N540
$618.18 AUD Add to cart -
Venetian Trade Bead Antique Tassel Necklace N114
$409.09 AUD Add to cart -
Venetian Trade Beads Rock Crystal Necklace N140
$900.00 AUD Add to cart -
Vintage Victorian Faceted Jet Necklace N390
$218.18 AUD Add to cart