Rare Blue Hearts Venetian Trade Beads

Rare Blue Hearts Venetian Trade Beads embellished with blue stripes. These Venetian trade beads are expertly crafted and unique, perfect for collectors or anyone looking to add a touch of history to their accessories.

Trade Beads originate from Venice, Bohemia, and other European countries from the late 1400s to the early 1900s. These beads were made from various materials such as bone, seeds, wood, stone, glass, and resins. The original purpose of these beads was believed to have been for protective purposes against uncontrollable natural events or as a show of status within society. People began using trade beads as currency when trade routes were established and Europeans used beads to trade with Africans for services and goods. Africans used Venetian trade beads for different purposes such as trade between different tribes to store and measure wealth and as a show of status within the community. 

"Trade Beads" refer to beads primarily produced in Venice, Bohemia, and other European countries from the late 1400s to the early 1900s, traded in Africa and the Americas. The peak of this trade occurred from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, with the Venetians dominating production. J.F. Sick and Co. and Moses Lewin Levin played significant roles as bead brokers/importers. The beads gained renewed popularity in the late 1960s when exported from Africa to the U.S. and Europe. The term "Trade Beads" became widely used, and they were also known as "Love Beads" during the Hippie era. As demand grew, specific names like "Russian Blues" and "Dutch Donuts" emerged, contributing to the beads' collectability. Today, these beads are highly sought after, with some styles becoming rarer as African traders venture deeper into the continent to find them.