Europe, Venice (modern day Italy), found in western Africa, ca. 18th to early 19th century CE. A pretty collection of twenty-two matching trade beads, each a dark red, with yellow, white, and black eye-like motifs around their cylindrical forms. These beads were manufactured in Europe to be traded in Africa, particularly in the Ashante kingdom in West Africa, as part of the slave trade. Beads like this were incredibly popular because glassmaking was uncommon in Africa. For Europeans, they were relatively inexpensive and easy to produce. Today, they are a reminder of early global trade networks. Size of largest bead (all are very similar in size): 0.6" W (1.5 cm)

Provenance: private Tacoma, Washington, USA collection

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#131726

All have patina from age and handling.