Accession Number

1994.005.0021

Creation Date

circa 1700

Description

Acid-free plastic bag containing 346 glass beads of various sizes and colors cleaned from trade bead matrix 1986.008.1266.
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.