Buck Conner1
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Here's a short review of an old well researched item used as trade around the world for centuries. When still having a retail muzzleloading store we got involved by accident in the trade of beads - "Antique Trade Beads". A good friend and an ex-Seal from Seal Team One ran by store outside of Estes Park CO (great area for tourists). Being ex-military he could fly standby at military posts around the world. It was his idea to get into original (antique) trade beads knowing several large wholesalers in Europe and South Africa. The mark up was unbelievable - a $1,000 (wholesale) would bring in $5,000 (retail). Best damn profit margin seen in today's market. No shipping as my friend would fly in pick out what we wanted (high grade) and then out for free.
From just the bead market we were able to build a 1,000 sq ft addition to an old homestead of 600 sq ft and stock the shelves with muzzleloading supplies as well as have a nice selection of muzzleloaders (new and used). The fun part was we would sit down in the evening and go through the wholesalers catalogs and make lists of goods to sell. Somethings we liked in some cases turned out we were the only ones that thought they were neat.
"Buckhorn Rendezvous Inc." was born out of my friends idea on the trade beads. Blanket traders as well as small shops had beads (for most part modern made), we had originals with good prices that got the attention of the seasoned buckskinner as well as the tourists.
"Dumb Luck" (according to my father) has been my makeup most of my life, just stumbling from one thing to another.
The use of beads by Africans is said to have started as far back as 75,000 years ago. The first known examples of beads used for adornment purposes were discovered in 2004 in the Blombos Cave on the SA coast. They were made with the shell of ostrich eggs.
Beads believed to be more than 12,000 years old were discovered in Kenya, Sudan and Libya. These beads made from egg shells were used by the Turkana people as currencies which were given to women before their actual marriage as part of their dowry.
Before Africans started using the glass beads in 4th century, the cowrie shell and bone beads served as currency for exchange of goods and services. However, the glass bead later became more popular and dominant source of currency for almost 700 years. Evidence proving the existence of glass beads in Africa was discovered in Egypt and South Africa. There is evidence that suggest that glass beads were introduced into Africa during the 4th century, from Portugal. This was the time when trade in Africa began to bloom. However, the actual evidence of glass beads production in African nations such as Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Krobo dated back to 12 century. The initial method used in the production of these beads is referred to as wet-core powder method. By 14th century, glass beads had become an acceptable currency for trade. The explorers used glass beads as a means of exchange. The economic activities of the explorers in African society helped to increase the production of African currency in Venice by 1500. Various types of beads were used during the Golden Trade Era in Africa. Examples of beads used then were the Stripe Chevrons beads, Venetian trade beads, and Millefiori beads.
Ethiopia is well known for its skilled metal-smiths that create beautiful filigree silver, gold as well as brass jewelry and large metal crosses for church processions. These skilled smiths are also tasked with creating Ethiopian prayer beads which are an important element of the church. These beads, smooth and almost perfectly cylindrical, are made from pure metals such as gold, silver and brass. Ethiopian priests and devotees use the prayer beads much like a Catholic rosary, counting a line, passage, or individual incantation on each bead. Ethiopian Muslims also use the prayer beads, holding up to 66 metal beads, mostly during celebrations, fasting, repentance, and rites of passage.
Originally made to ease the passage of European explorers and then traders mainly across the African continents, the beads were made throughout Europe although the Venetians dominated production. Trade beads are also found in the United States and Canada, and throughout Latin America. The bead designs were varied.</a> North American Indians sought beads of particular color, size and form. The frequency of archaeological discovery of each type indicates their popularity. Large blue beads were favoured early in the trade although details of when European trade with native American Indians began remains elusive.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_beads#cite_note-vaam-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_beads#cite_note-vaam-1
The production of slave (trade) beads became so popular that literally tons of these beads were used for this purpose. Beads were used as ballast in slave/trade ships for the outbound trip. The beads and other trade items were exchanged for human cargo as well as ivory, gold and other goods desired in Europe and around the world. The beads traded were not of a set design, but were produced according to demand. Millefori (thousand flower) beads from Venice, Italy were one of the most commonly traded beads, and are commonly known as "African trade beads." They were produced by creating flowers or stripes from glass canes that were then cut and molded onto a core of solid color. Beads such as the kiffa beads of Mauritania are thought to have resulted from women creating powdered glass beads to mimic the appearance of millefiori beads.
The success of this form of currency can largely be attributed to the high intrinsic value African people put upon decorative items. Glass making was not common in Africa.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_beads#cite_note-vaam-1] Africans often used beads for currency (often referred to as African money) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_beads#cite_note-4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[/url]and wealth storage, and social status could be easily determined by the quality, quantity and style of jewelry worn. This created a high demand for trade beads in Africa.
Beads were highly valuable in traditional African society, even today. They are used for different purposes. Most societies in Africa use them for adornment. They are also used for artworks. Besides using beads for fashion reasons, some African communities in the past used special types of beads as currencies for exchange of goods and services.
Beads can serve as a means of identity. In some communities for example, men of high status wear special kinds of beads to indicate their positions in the society. They can be worn to show the tribe or family a person belongs to.
These are my favorite of the whole bunch and probably are of the oldest found today. Best part they are easily found on the Internet at fair prices. I wear these most of the time under my outer shirt when going to town as they are referred as "Prayer Beads" according to friends from South Africans.
Here's a short review of an old well researched item used as trade around the world for centuries. When still having a retail muzzleloading store we got involved by accident in the trade of beads - "Antique Trade Beads". A good friend and an ex-Seal from Seal Team One ran by store outside of Estes Park CO (great area for tourists). Being ex-military he could fly standby at military posts around the world. It was his idea to get into original (antique) trade beads knowing several large wholesalers in Europe and South Africa. The mark up was unbelievable - a $1,000 (wholesale) would bring in $5,000 (retail). Best damn profit margin seen in today's market. No shipping as my friend would fly in pick out what we wanted (high grade) and then out for free.
From just the bead market we were able to build a 1,000 sq ft addition to an old homestead of 600 sq ft and stock the shelves with muzzleloading supplies as well as have a nice selection of muzzleloaders (new and used). The fun part was we would sit down in the evening and go through the wholesalers catalogs and make lists of goods to sell. Somethings we liked in some cases turned out we were the only ones that thought they were neat.
"Buckhorn Rendezvous Inc." was born out of my friends idea on the trade beads. Blanket traders as well as small shops had beads (for most part modern made), we had originals with good prices that got the attention of the seasoned buckskinner as well as the tourists.
"Dumb Luck" (according to my father) has been my makeup most of my life, just stumbling from one thing to another.
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A Little History On Trade BeadsThe use of beads by Africans is said to have started as far back as 75,000 years ago. The first known examples of beads used for adornment purposes were discovered in 2004 in the Blombos Cave on the SA coast. They were made with the shell of ostrich eggs.
Beads believed to be more than 12,000 years old were discovered in Kenya, Sudan and Libya. These beads made from egg shells were used by the Turkana people as currencies which were given to women before their actual marriage as part of their dowry.
Before Africans started using the glass beads in 4th century, the cowrie shell and bone beads served as currency for exchange of goods and services. However, the glass bead later became more popular and dominant source of currency for almost 700 years. Evidence proving the existence of glass beads in Africa was discovered in Egypt and South Africa. There is evidence that suggest that glass beads were introduced into Africa during the 4th century, from Portugal. This was the time when trade in Africa began to bloom. However, the actual evidence of glass beads production in African nations such as Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Krobo dated back to 12 century. The initial method used in the production of these beads is referred to as wet-core powder method. By 14th century, glass beads had become an acceptable currency for trade. The explorers used glass beads as a means of exchange. The economic activities of the explorers in African society helped to increase the production of African currency in Venice by 1500. Various types of beads were used during the Golden Trade Era in Africa. Examples of beads used then were the Stripe Chevrons beads, Venetian trade beads, and Millefiori beads.
Ethiopia is well known for its skilled metal-smiths that create beautiful filigree silver, gold as well as brass jewelry and large metal crosses for church processions. These skilled smiths are also tasked with creating Ethiopian prayer beads which are an important element of the church. These beads, smooth and almost perfectly cylindrical, are made from pure metals such as gold, silver and brass. Ethiopian priests and devotees use the prayer beads much like a Catholic rosary, counting a line, passage, or individual incantation on each bead. Ethiopian Muslims also use the prayer beads, holding up to 66 metal beads, mostly during celebrations, fasting, repentance, and rites of passage.
Originally made to ease the passage of European explorers and then traders mainly across the African continents, the beads were made throughout Europe although the Venetians dominated production. Trade beads are also found in the United States and Canada, and throughout Latin America. The bead designs were varied.</a> North American Indians sought beads of particular color, size and form. The frequency of archaeological discovery of each type indicates their popularity. Large blue beads were favoured early in the trade although details of when European trade with native American Indians began remains elusive.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_beads#cite_note-vaam-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_beads#cite_note-vaam-1
The production of slave (trade) beads became so popular that literally tons of these beads were used for this purpose. Beads were used as ballast in slave/trade ships for the outbound trip. The beads and other trade items were exchanged for human cargo as well as ivory, gold and other goods desired in Europe and around the world. The beads traded were not of a set design, but were produced according to demand. Millefori (thousand flower) beads from Venice, Italy were one of the most commonly traded beads, and are commonly known as "African trade beads." They were produced by creating flowers or stripes from glass canes that were then cut and molded onto a core of solid color. Beads such as the kiffa beads of Mauritania are thought to have resulted from women creating powdered glass beads to mimic the appearance of millefiori beads.
The success of this form of currency can largely be attributed to the high intrinsic value African people put upon decorative items. Glass making was not common in Africa.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_beads#cite_note-vaam-1] Africans often used beads for currency (often referred to as African money) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_beads#cite_note-4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[/url]and wealth storage, and social status could be easily determined by the quality, quantity and style of jewelry worn. This created a high demand for trade beads in Africa.
Beads were highly valuable in traditional African society, even today. They are used for different purposes. Most societies in Africa use them for adornment. They are also used for artworks. Besides using beads for fashion reasons, some African communities in the past used special types of beads as currencies for exchange of goods and services.
Beads can serve as a means of identity. In some communities for example, men of high status wear special kinds of beads to indicate their positions in the society. They can be worn to show the tribe or family a person belongs to.
Smithsonian Education
This was a picture taken at a trade show back in 2000.
