Musings On African Trade Beads

I have collected African Trade Beads for longer than I care to tell.  I studied their history and marveled at the diverse and magical and often tragic tales they told. Most were made in Murano, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Holland and Germany. Many were made in the 1600s and 1700s to be used in trade by the early explorers.  They were taken to Africa in the holds of the great East India Company trading ships, from 1600 to 1834. They were used as ballast (because glass is heavy) by the ton and then traded in Africa with local tribesmen, sometimes even weight for weight with gold… That detail alone blows my mind!

When I began making jewelry with them in the early 1980’s, I worked with respect for their history, weight and balance. Each necklace strung on thread is hand knotted for strength.

 I offer individual beads simply hung on cord,

 

because we need to treasure them and examine them for their often amazing detail.
The beads in my earrings are carefully selected for their condition and size. Being so hand made, it is hard to find pairs in a strand because most of them are slightly different, or even have a crooked hole….

When I began collecting them, I had no idea I would one day become a glass bead maker myself. 
Study their history.
If you in any way question their value these days, simply Google “African Trade Beads “ and see how high prices have risen… gone are the days of inexpensive historical beads.  People today are realizing their magic, the conditions lamp bead makers worked under, the voyages world-wide taken by the beads, their value in trade. You will understand more about how special they are and why I treat them with such respect.