Trade Beads

Trade Beads Physical Object


Accession Number
1992.001.0004d
Category
Creation Date
circa 1700
Materials
Description
Acid-free plastic bag containing 64 green/white 3.0-4.0 mm. beads. See also 1992.001.0004a (110 green 4.0 mm.), 1992.001.0004b (72 green 4.0 mm.), 1992.001.0004c (7 green 4.0 mm. halves), 1992.001.0004e (281 green 3.0-4.0 mm.), and 1992.002.0004f (58 green 4.0-6.0 mm.)
Beads were a staple trade good of Europeans in Africa as well as in the Americas. These beads would be traded for slaves in Africa where they were highly desirable symbols of wealth and prestige.