Collectible Beads

Collectible trade beads including Venetian glass beads, millefiori, mosaic beads, Islamic-period beads, faience, ancient glass and stone beads, and Bohemian trade beads associated with long-distance exchange and personal adornment.

The collection includes beads in glass, stone, shell, faience, and other traditional materials reflecting centuries of trade between Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Many beads were worn as adornment, traded as valuable objects, or incorporated into ceremonial dress and textile traditions.