African Trade Beads

Millefiori beads have been treasured by the African people from far before the colonial period. Millefiori, literally meaning ‘a thousand flowers’, beads are also known as Mosaic trade beads from ancient time throughout the world. Millefiori trade beads are one of some African trade beads that were used as currency to trade and exchange for goods in Africa during the colonial period. As the meaning implies millefiori beads come in different color variations and beautiful designs. Because of the fact that Millefiori trade beads are handcrafted you’ll find the nuance difference between them. There are no two beads alike and each bead is a work of art. They are characterized by their long shape which is longer than other African beads.

Originally, the millefiori beads were made dominantly in Venice in the late 1800’s and imported to Africa for trading purpose. They were produced by creating flowers or stripes from glass canes, cut and molded onto a core of solid material and finally made into beads.

In the late 1960s, once more Millefiori beads became popular as jewelry in the United States. They were given the name ‘love beads’ by the hippies and made into necklaces as peace a symbol. A single piece of bead can make an exquisite centerpiece in pendants, bracelets, earrings, finger rings and many others jewelries. People also buy them as collector items because of their colorful history. They are rising in value by 10% each year. Because of their exquisite beauty they are precious as gifts and decorative items.

Some other popular beads such as Kiffa beads of Mauritania were evolved based on the great demand of Millefiori beads. Though they were evolved to mimic the appearance of Millefiori beads, the fascinating attraction to Millefiori beads is still deep rooted. Today, old millefiori trade beads are very expensive, especially if they were made in Venice in the 1800s or used in the 1960s and 1970s.

Strand of mixed African Dogon beads

Dogon Beads originate from Holland in the 1800′s. Other sources cite that the beads were also crafted in Germany in the second half of the century. They were originally used in formal gardens to create mosaics as opposed to flowers. It wasn’t until they reached West African shores that they became popular with the Dogon people of Mali who, enticed by their beauty, used them as jewellery.

The physical make up of the beads themselves is quite unique and is the reason they were such popular trade beads in Africa. The hole in the beads is unusually large and so the beads themselves are sometimes called ‘Dogon Donuts‘ because of their shape. They are commonly light cobalt blue in colour but this can vary from light brown, red, white or green. Sizes of the beads vary but are commonly 13mm in diameter and 3mm thick.

The price of the beads can range between $35 to $350. This depends how many beads there are in the set and what condition they are in. More beads doesn’t always mean a higher price however, as certain designs or colours are more rare than others but a realistic price to pay for beads created in the late part of the 18^th century is about $290. This is for buying them online though, and the cost may be higher if purchased through a specialist retailer or at an auction. If you aren’t interested in getting antique beads, you can get a nice set for about $35 that still looks good.

Information is difficult to find on the beads but their rarity and beauty make them a valuable collectors item. Please leave a comment below to add your own stories about any sets you might own or where you can find them.

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