Nueva Cadiz Blue Trade Beads 34inch

Nueva Cadiz trade beads are glass beads that were used as a form of currency and traded extensively in the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries. These beads were named after the city of Nueva Cadiz, which was located on the island of Cubagua off the coast of Venezuela.

Nueva Cadiz was a major center of pearl fishing in the Caribbean, and the trade beads were used as a means of exchange for pearls, gold, and other goods. The beads were made in Venice, Italy, and were traded to Spanish merchants who brought them to the Americas.

The beads were highly valued by indigenous people and were used for both decorative and practical purposes. They were often worn as jewelry, but they were also used as adornments for clothing and as trade goods. The beads were particularly popular among the indigenous people of what is now Colombia, Venezuela, and the Caribbean.

The production of Nueva Cadiz trade beads declined in the 18th century as other forms of currency, such as coins, became more common. However, they remain an important part of the history of trade and cultural exchange in the Americas. Today, they are valued by collectors and are sometimes used in traditional indigenous costumes and crafts.