African Trade Beads

African Trade beads originate from Venice, Bohemia and other European countries including Germany, France and the Netherlands. They were then used for trading in Africa and the Americas. For the most part, the beads available today were made in the late 19th century or the early 20th century and have had several owners.

Rita's collection includes both African Trade beads and African-made beads. Rita purchased beads from African traders from a variety of African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia, and Mauritania. All of the African Trade beads in Rita's collection are vintage or antique.

Note: Some photographs below contain multiple items, and each available item in these images is now listed separately, with its own photo, description and item number/letter combination. Consequently, multiple versions of the same photograph may appear in the page below.
African Item 001African Item 001$60.00Brass finger rings, lost wax method. Ethopian women used them as hair ornaments. Ethiopia, early to mid 1900's. Sold as a pair.African Item 003African Item 003$750.00(Item location: Top) Antique Kiffa beads, mix of red and blue triangles. 43 beads. Very nice, although some beads are in imperfect condition. Made in Kiffa, Mauritania, used as women's hair adornments. African Item 004African Item 004$290.004 Chevron Venetian Trade beads, 7-layer. These beads were misformed in fabrication and have some chips and wear. End of 15th century. African Item 005African Item 005$360.00These are unusual matched black Venetian Trade beads ridged with "skunk" dots. Some have wonderful yellow designs. They were made in Venice, traded in Africa, late 19th to early 20th century. Good to very good condition. African Item 006African Item 006$1,950.00Chevron Venetian Trade beads, 7-layer. 28 beads. End of 15th century.
African Item 007African Item 007$340.00Rare, matched powder glass African Trade "Good Beads", Ghana. 17mm. Very good condition. Circular or "eye" designs on solid background, generically called "good bead" in Ghana.African Item 011African Item 011$350.00This strand combines Black King beads and other matched black Venetian Trade beads. Made in Venice, traded in Africa. Early 1900's. Good condition.African Item 037African Item 037$145.00Vintage beads, African-made. Range from 22-30mm. 22 beads. Variety of designs. African Item 038African Item 038$650.00These are wonderful Bowtie Venetian Trade Beads, made in Venice, late 1800's. 99 beads. Good to very good condition.African Item 043African Item 043$275.00These unusual black rectangular with combed decoration from the African Trade. They are most likely from the late 1800's or early 1900's. Also includes rectangular trail-applied design on other beads. Good to very good condition.
African Item 053African Item 053$240.00Russian Blues hand-faceted glass trade beads. Made in Europe, traded in Africa. Early 1900's. 80 beads. Good to very good condition.African Item 055African Item 055$215.00Rare White Venetian "eye" beads with circle-dot motif. Late 1800's. Approximately 7mm (10mm diameter). 137 beads. African Item 070aAfrican Item 070a$50.00(Item location: Upper right) Copal or resin cylindrical beads, AfricaAfrican Item 071bAfrican Item 071b$20.00(Item location: Center) Brass saucersAfrican Item 078African Item 078$70.00Mixed strand of faceted green, yellow and clear bicone Vaseline Beads. Made in Europe, traded in Africa. Early 1900's.
African Item 089aAfrican Item 089a$20.00(Item location: Left) Vintage copper beads from the African Trade, early 20th century. 2 strands available (price for 1). African Item 092African Item 092$80.00Faceted agate and carnelian beadsAfrican Item 093bAfrican Item 093b$70.00(Item location: Right) Amber resin Mala prayer beadsAfrican Item 098African Item 098$40.00Multi-colored glass molded Bohemian beadsAfrican Item 1000African Item 1000$45.00Vintage black, white and red glass beads from the African Trade. Early 20th century.
African Item 1015aAfrican Item 1015a$65.00(Item location: Left) Ancient beads from MaliAfrican Item 102African Item 102$200.00American flag chevrons, yellow and red striped blacks and other matched Venetian glass beadsAfrican Item 1022aAfrican Item 1022a$30.00(Item location: Center) Vintage African brass beads. 8mm each. Very useful!African Item 1032African Item 1032$130.00African Item 1035African Item 1035$55.00Old agate beads, Africa. Varied sizes, shapes and colors.
African Item 1037aAfrican Item 1037a$95.00(Item location: Upper left) African Item 1037bAfrican Item 1037b$95.00(Item location: Right) African Item 103aAfrican Item 103a$25.00(Item location: Upper right) Mixed African beadsAfrican Item 1041aAfrican Item 1041a$110.00(Item location: Right) Russian Blue trade beads, made in Europe, late 19th to mid 20th centuryAfrican Item 1042aAfrican Item 1042a$50.00(Item location: Right) Russian blues from the African Trade
African Item 1043aAfrican Item 1043a$45.00(Item location: Left) Russian bluesAfrican Item 1047aAfrican Item 1047a$30.00(Item location: Left) Vintage copper beads, Africa. 17mm with some variation in size.African Item 1049African Item 1049$50.00Bohemian Wedding trade beads. Mid 20th century. "Wedding Beads" were made in the Czech Republic specifically for the African trade in the 1950s and started being exported from Africa to the US and Europe in the 1980s.African Item 105African Item 105$110.00Clay spindle whorls, Mali. Spindle whorls are traditional tribal pieces. They were originally used to firm the spindle when spinning yarn and have often been used as ornaments as well. African Item 1050African Item 1050$55.00Bohemian Wedding trade beads. Mid 20th century. "Wedding Beads" were made in the Czech Republic specifically for the African trade in the 1950s and started being exported from Africa to the US and Europe in the 1980s.
African Item 1059aAfrican Item 1059a$145.00(Item location: Right) Striped Blacks and Striped Melon beads. Made in Venice, early 20th century Traded in AfricaAfrican Item 1060aAfrican Item 1060a$55.00(Item location: Left) Tiny yellow chevronsAfrican Item 1060bAfrican Item 1060b$165.00(Item location: Right) A collection of mixed beadsAfrican Item 1061aAfrican Item 1061a$110.00(Item location: Right) Collection of vintage Venetian glass beads from the African Trade.African Item 1068aAfrican Item 1068a$30.00(Item location: Center) Vintage brass beads from the African Trade.