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Trade
Beads
The history of beads dates back to our ancient ancestors. The earliest know beads were made out of readily available,
simple materials including bone, ivory, teeth, seeds, stone, wood and a variety of plant and insect resins. Trade BeadsIt's
believed that the first beads were worn as protection against uncontrollable events and the forces of nature, as well as to
show one's status in the community and to enhance beauty. As bead making increased, and trade routes were established, the
use of beads for trade began.
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, including
gold, slaves, ivory, and palm oil. In those days, beads were a major component of the currency exchanged for people and products.
Over the four centuries that followed, millions of beads were traded to Africa, and by the nineteenth century, European bead
makers were producing a wide variety of designs specifically for the African trade, such as millefiori, chevrons, striped
melons, feather, and eye beads.
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