ArtFire

Beads have been used as body adornments since before 30,000BC with countless different styles, materials and origins. Trade beads are usually associated with West Africa where they are usually found, but they were originally created in Venice, Bohemia, and Holland. The history of trade beads dates back to the end of the fifteenth century when Portuguese trading ships arrived on the coast of West Africa to exploit its many resources.

Trade beads facilitated early European penetration of the northern Woodland culture area. They were a useful item for "coureurs de bois" (woods-runners) who carried light trade goods in backpacks on forest trails and in canoes on long early northern woodland travels, pursuing beaver pelts during the 17th and 18th centuries. Lightweight, easy to pack, undamaged by water, immediately desirable to most tribes who never saw them before, beads were among the "gift trinkets" carried by most explorers and expeditions to help in making contact with tribes newly met.

These are mostly size 6/0 seed beads or 4mm rondelles, triangles and square with some larger size beads thrown in. You will recieve 50 grams. Please see my other listings of Africana Trade Beads.


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Don't see what you are looking for? Check the huge selection of beads in my Art Fire store http://Spiritbearbeads.artfire.com
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Email me for discount on larger quantities.

czech glass beads

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