It refers to the multi layered wound mosaic glass beads which were produced in venice beginning in the early 1800s. The first recorded case of use of trade beads in america is by christopher columbus who wrote in his log on october 12 1492 that he had given san salvador natives glass trade beads to impress them.
Africas fascinating bead history predates the african trade bead era by over 75000 years.
What were african trade beads used for. Many of the old beads were made in europe and india and transported to west africa initially by arab traders overland from north africa. On the triangular trading routes from europe to west africa then onto the west indies to return with produce from the. Trade beads sometimes called aggry and slave beads were otherwise decorative glass beads used between the 16th and 20th century as a token money to exchange for goods services and slaves hence the name.
Egyptian mythology and bead symbolism. Trade beads used in africa also go by the name slave beads because they were exchanged for slaves. Trade beads were used in africa from around the 1600s to the 1900s and they were used in such copious amounts that there is a steady supply of beads for the modern market.
From around 500 years ago the european traders in their sailing ships used beads as currency to purchase gold ivory and palm oil etc. They formed an important element in early trade networks between europe and africa as they were made in europe particularly venice bohemia and the netherlands and used in trade in africa. Jewelry in africa is seldom just ornamental.
These beads were used for personal decoration and when arranged on a string in a particular color pattern to convey messages between various tribes. This was between the sixteenth and the twentieth century. Trade beads were used to purchase african resources by early europeans1 this included african slave trade.
Trade beads were for centuries the primary currency of african economy however they are also thought to be a form of currency exchange for the soul with certain gods. Several companies also produce modern versions of trade beads to meet the demand. They are commonly known as african trade beads.
A comprehensive history of african trade beads their history as well as links to thousands of photos of beautiful glass beads from the african continent. Historically african jewelry is also used to barter and trade with and sometimes mainly in exchange for cloth food or other products but most of the time they were used also more sadly for slaves. These beads were known as trade aggry or even slave beads the museums accessions register records that many of its examples were made for use in the african slave trade.
The first known examples found in the blombos cave on the south african coast near capetown in 2004. Wampum beads were widely used for trade but were not considered a form of money. The beads were integrated.
They were produced by creating flowers or stripes from glass canes that were then cut and molded onto a core of solid color. Rituals religion and ceremonies play a large part.
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