Black Dog Tooth Ruffle Trade Beads

Black Dog Tooth Trade beads are historical adornments that add a touch of cultural flair to any jewelry design. These beads originate from the era of the African trade routes and carry a rich legacy of commerce and cultural exchange. Characterized by their unique shape with distinctive ruffled edges, each bead is a testament to the skilled craftsmanship of the artisans who created them. These beads are crafted from glass and serve as tangible reminders of the global trade networks that connected distant cultures and shaped the course of history. 

"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.

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