Necklace, Venetian polka dot trade bead

This necklace uses 17th century Venetian glass beads, often referred to as trade beads. These beads were used to trade gold, minerals, ivory and even slaves with tribal chiefs of West Africa from the 16th – 18th centuries when glass was unknown in Africa. They were highly prized by chiefs who used them as adornment to demonstrate their power and wealth. The beads effectively became currency and were the basis of Venice's great power and wealth from the 16th century. The polka dot designs were used by the Venetian noblemen to trade specifically for ivory and have, over time, been further traded across Africa. Even today, such old glass beads, like ivory, indicate wealth among the Dinka people of Southern Sudan amongst others. A wedding necklace of Venetian glass beads represents the wealth of the bridegroom's family, each strand being worth an ox.
Length: 44 cm / 17 inches, lowest point approx 65 cm / 25 inches