Baby Moon and Blue Dutch Donut Trade Beads 34 Inch

Trade beads often made of glass, played a crucial role in historical exchange between Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Far more than decorative objects, they functioned as currency, symbols of wealth and status, and vessels of cultural meaning. Produced primarily in Europe, these beads became especially valued in Africa, where they were traded for highly sought-after resources such as palm oil and other agricultural goods. Today, trade beads are treasured by collectors and artists for their beauty, historical significance, and the stories they reveal about early global trade and cultural exchange.

Among the most intriguing of these beads are rare opalescent examples commonly known as moon beads. Their precise origin and period remain uncertain, though they have been attributed to glassmaking centers in Venice, Bohemia, Germany, and the Netherlands, where they are sometimes referred to as “18th-century Amsterdams.” Notably, these beads appear on sample cards belonging to prominent London bead merchant Moses Lewin Levin, dated between 1851 and 1869. What is beyond dispute, however, is their ethereal beauty: each bead seems to capture and hold a beam of moonlight within its translucent surface.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, European traders carried moon beads to West Africa, where they were exchanged for palm oil and other valuable goods. In Nigeria, the beads were particularly favored by the Yoruba people. Yoruba priests used them to adorn shrine sculptures, including ritual objects such as the staff of Orisha Oko. Yoruba chiefs believed moon beads symbolized wealth and authority and attributed to them magical and therapeutic properties, further enhancing their cultural and spiritual importance.

This strand is not intended to be a ready-to-wear necklace. Although the strand can be worn "as is," the raffia holding it together is not durable and may break with use. For this reason, we recommend that you restring the beads before wearing them.

Strand Length: 34 inches (includes string/raffia)
Bead Size: 11-13 mm diameter. See picture with penny for size comparison.

152896