{"product_id":"flat-ended-black-trade-beads-154673","title":"Flat Ended Black Trade Beads","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"17a9ca8e-3605-4a9d-83c9-338430eb29f7\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-3-mini\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"376\"\u003eFlat-ended black trade beads, a distinctive form of \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eTrade Beads\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, were widely produced in Europe and circulated through global trade networks linking Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Their simple cylindrical form with flattened ends gave them a bold, grounded appearance that made them especially useful in long strands and layered adornment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"378\" data-end=\"669\"\u003eLike other trade beads, they were not only decorative but also functioned as a form of currency, markers of status, and carriers of cultural exchange. They were widely traded in Africa, where they were exchanged for valuable goods and became integrated into local ornamentation traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"671\" data-end=\"871\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eToday, flat-ended black trade beads are valued by collectors and designers for their understated elegance, tactile weight, and the historical role they played in global trade and cultural interaction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhoto is an example. Yours will be similar. You are purchasing one.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Polaris-Box\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_ActivatorWrapper_36nu6_55\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"PRODUCT.metafields.global.Strand_Length-anchor\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Edit Strand Length metafield\" class=\"_ActivatorButton_36nu6_59\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_RowWrapper_36nu6_4\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_FormFieldLabel_36nu6_30\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Polaris-Text--root Polaris-Text--bodyMd\"\u003eStrand Length: 29 inches (including string\/raffia).\u003cbr\u003eBead Size: 5.5-7 mm diameter. See picture with penny for size comparison (US penny is 19mm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e154673\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"sku 154000","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51357755867431,"sku":"154673","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1015\/9911\/files\/IMG_5733_5fe2fafa-9d27-42d4-8ba5-4161a7ca40fb.jpg?v=1777570727","url":"https:\/\/africadirect.com\/products\/flat-ended-black-trade-beads-154673","provider":"Africa Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}