Month: March 2010

Venetian Millefiori “Thousand Flower” Trade Beads

My favorite trade beads are Millefiori trade beads from Africa. Millefiori is a word which literally means “thousand flowers”. Millefiori beads are handcrafted beads that have flower designs layered into them. Because they are handmade, each bead is unique. There are no two beads alike.

These beads can run you anywhere from $8 – $60 a piece. They are cherished for their history and age. To many, they are known as “African Trade Beads.” Most Millefiori trade beads have traveled multiple contents, including Europe, Africa, and the United States. You can also purchase them by the strand, in which case they run between $80 and $500.

As you can see in the photo above, they are colorful and crafted with such great detail. Each bead is a work of art that should be cherished to the fullest. Millefiori trade beads make great centerpieces for necklaces and jewelry. True, they are quite an investment, but I guarantee, it is well worth it. You can have a lot of fun with these great beads!

Antique Awale Chevron Trade Beads

One very popular type of chevron trade beads are antique awale beads. These old trade beads are usually light blue with brown and dark blue stripes. In relativity to other chevron beads, awale are relatively cheap, typically running you $23 – $49 a strand. Not bad compared to other chevron trade beads, which can run up to $3,000 per bead!

Many people ask us why these beads are called awale (some people spell it awalleh). To be honest, I’m not quite sure. But this is the name that is used by most African traders in the states.

These beads were most likely made in Venice sometime in the 19th century, or very early 20th century. Most of the time, they are found in good condition, but some beads can be cracked or chipped due to age. These trade beads are said to hold some kind of mysterious and romantic connection to the past. The beads measure anywhere from 4mm – 10mm in diameter, and there are usually anywhere from 100 – 180 beads per strand. Some strands run about 24″ in length, but they can measure as large as 32″ in a strand (if you’re lucky).