African Beads
Rare and Collectible Beads
from Piney Hollow
African BeadsRare and Collectible Beadsfrom Piney Hollow |
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 PINEY HOLLOW 427 North 4th Avenue Tucson, Arizona 85705 USA 520 623-4450 piney-hollow.com
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TECHNICAL NOTE: To enjoy the colors of our catalog as they were created, click here for a simple Monitor Adjustment. 
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Rare and Collectible "African" BeadsThis web site presents the history and lore of collectible beads from around the world and features a sampling of beads from Piney Hollow's bead museum and retail store catalog. The beads are categorized according to the regions and cultures in which they were traded or produced. |
The Diggers (detail) bead
work = 5 x 5 inches |
History and Manufacture
One type of "African" bead is the "chevron" bead. A modern chevron
bead is pictured here.
Chevron and certain other glass beads are generally called "African"
beads because they were used there as currency in trade. They were
(and still are) produced in Venice, as early as the 16th century.
They were part of the Venetian trade throughout the Mediterranean,
Europe and beyond. They became very popular in Africa and both North
and South America.
"Feather" beads are highly favored for their delicate appearance.
They were made in Venice and were very popular with African tribal
cultures during colonial times, when they were used for currency.
When African countries became independent of colonial governments,
they went to a cash economy and these beads were dumped on the
market. They were also traded by native Americans in North and South
America in the mid-1800s. Feather beads now come to the US through
African traders from Gambia and Mali, but they are becoming rare
because many African countrys have trade embargos on them.
(Note: these beads are not presently available) [another example]
The "Thousand Eye" or "Evil Eye" beads shown here (diameter = 10mm)
and have been a staple trade item since the middle of the 1800's.
The "eye" bead is a world-wide design and is worn to ward off evil.
Psychologists theorize that the "function" of these beads derives
from the common human characteristic of being unable to lie or do
harm to others while looking them in the eye. These (Venetian) beads
are common and are on the lower ring of collectibles.
"Milifiore" beads ("thousand flowers".....pronounced in English as
'mili-fee-ori') are of Venitian origin and were extensively traded
into west Africa. Demand was high for them in the mid-1800s. They
are still made, but modern beads are more refined and of less
interest to collectors.
Copal beads are made of a resin-like material with some transparent areas.
These beads are hard and have a beautiful luster. The illustrated beads
range from 14-40 mm in diameter.
Vaseline
African Brass
Komal
French Ambassador beads were made Venice for the French. The beads were
offered to village headmen as a present from the colonial government.
The French Ambassador bead necklace pictured here
has been strung with additional eye beads.
Kiffa Beads: A product of Mali, West Africa, the beads are made of
powdered, fused glass. Made and traded in the last century, copies
are created today but do not have the quality or the delineation of
the originals. Kiffa beads are considered to be the finest example
of African bead making.
Gambian spindle beads were used to spin native wool and cotton. A
40" strand is available.
Mixed Trades:
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For orders and queries
PINEY HOLLOW
427 North 4th Avenue
Tucson, Arizona 85705 USA
520 623-4450
pineyho@aol.com
| Cat. # | Bead name/origin | Bead Description | Bead Size (mm) | Strand length (inches) | Price (US$) per strand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Copal, Ethiopia | small ovals and cylinders | 15x21 mm | 24 in. | 320.00 |
| A-2 | Copal, Ethiopia | medium ovals | 21x24 mm | 23 in. | 320.00 |
| A-3 | Copal, Ethiopia | large rounded | graduated | 24 in. | 600.00 |
| A-4 | Gambian spindle beads | Large rounds | 24x22 mm | 40 in. | 7.00ea, 150/strand |
| A-5 | Mixed trades, West Africa | millifiori circa 1850 | sizes vary | 28 in. | 100.00 |
| A-6 | Mixed trades, West Africa | millifiori circa 1850 | sizes vary | 33 in. | 100.00 |
| A-7 | Trades, West Africa | millifiori, circa 1850 | sizes vary some mix | 29 in. | 125.00 |
| A-8 | Evil Eye beads | red, 19th century | 11 mm | 32 in. | 150.00 |
| A-9 | French Ambassadors | fine examples, 19th cent. | strand beads vary | 28 in. | 2,500.00 |
| A-10 | Kiffa beads, Mali | powdered glass,20th century | standard sizes | 30 in. | 2,800.00 |
| A-11 | Vaseline beads,West Africa | sea foam green, black light | 8 mm | 24 in. | 100.00 |
| A-12 | African Brass | round | 8 mm | 22 in. | 120.00 |
| A-13 | African Komal brass | bicone | 8 mm | 24 in. | 120.00 |
| A-14 | White Hearts | dark red, 19th cent. | 5 mm | 16 in. | 30.00 |
| A-15 | White Hearts | dark red, 19th century | 5 mm | 22 in. | 45.00 |
| A-16 | White hearts | dark red early 19th cent. | 5 mm | 20 in. | 21.00 each |
| A-17 | Vaseline beads, W.Africa | Transparent Greens, faceted | 11 mm | 30 in. | 40.00 |
| A-18 | Padres, West Africa | Blue Southwest style | 8 mm | 24 in. | 21.00 each |
| A-19 | Padres,West Africa | Blue, older, worn | 8 mm | 21 in. | 24.00 |
Chevron beads have been made from the 1500's to present day in Venice. Glass rods are bundled together to make a design. The bundle is then heated until the rods fuse. While still soft, these bundles can be drawn or stretched out, making the rod diameter smaller to meet the size required for the design. After cooling, the single rod is cut to length and ground down to make the combinations of colors show up at the ends of the beads in the familiar star patterns.
Milifiore beads, including those that were used in African Trade, are produced by fusing thin glass rods togther to form intricate designs. After fusion, the rods are broken away to leave small flower-like patterns. A core of glass is then formed and, when very soft, it is rolled over the small flower pieces. Then, the entire bead is again heated to absorb the flowers into the finished bead.
As soon as fused glass bead making techniques were discovered, Venice enacted harsh laws to protect the secret process. Other trading countries were eager to learn how to make them and there were 16th century equivelents of commercial spy organizations to enhance competition.
If you plan to attend the 2002 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show,
be sure to visit our retail store on 4th Avenue.
We are near the downtown area and other gem show sites.
PINEY HOLLOW
427 North 4th Avenue
Tucson, Arizona 85705 USA
520 623-4450
E-mail us at:
pineyho@aol.com
Use this link to inquire about
Collectible Beads from Piney Hollow.
Visit our Tucson retail store's web site:
http://piney-hollow.com
Web design by Anubis Productions International.
anubis@azstarnet.com
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