{"product_id":"old-padre-mixed-multicolored-trade-beads-156677","title":"Old Padre Mixed Multicolored Trade Beads","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis strand features \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOld Padre trade beads\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, small glass beads known for their colorful appearance and long history in international trade. The beads feature a mix of vibrant colors, creating a varied and eye-catching strand with subtle differences in color, size, and form.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe name “Padre” is associated with Spanish and Portuguese priests, or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003epadres\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, who were known to distribute similar glass beads during missionary activities. Originally produced by Venetian glassmakers beginning in the 15th century, these beads became important trade goods and circulated widely through Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They were particularly valued by Indigenous peoples of North America, where they were used for personal adornment, decoration, and as symbols of wealth and status.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduction of these beads later expanded beyond Venice to other European centers, including France and Germany, resulting in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and designs. Their extensive history across multiple trade networks makes Padre beads especially interesting to collectors of historical trade beads.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis mixed multicolored strand offers a wonderful combination of historical character and vibrant color, making it well suited for collecting, jewelry making, or other creative projects.\u003c\/span\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_1lxco_57\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"PRODUCT.metafields.global.Strand_Length-anchor\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_RowWrapper_1lxco_6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_FormFieldLabel_1lxco_32\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Polaris-Text--root Polaris-Text--bodyMd\"\u003eStrand Length: 27 inches (including string\/raffia).\u003cbr\u003eBead Size: 8-10 mm diameter. See picture with penny for size comparison (US penny is 19 mm diameter).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Polaris-Text--root Polaris-Text--bodyMd\"\u003e156677\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","brand":"sku 156000","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51875080503591,"sku":"156677","price":90.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1015\/9911\/files\/IMG_7467_e39b7086-8cf4-4831-9d48-ece316b7f263.jpg?v=1786729756","url":"https:\/\/africadirect.com\/products\/old-padre-mixed-multicolored-trade-beads-156677","provider":"Africa Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}