AFRICAN TRADE BEADS

The accent beads I used for making these necklaces are old and not easily found anymore. They are called "African Trade Beads" or simply "trade beads". They were used as currency mostly in the area of West Africa during the European colonization period beginning with by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century on to the nineteenth century.
They were made in Venice, Bohemia, and Holland in different designs called "millefiori" (a thousand flowers), chevrons, striped melons, feather, and eye beads.
People wore them around their neck for self adornment, status and as currency. The cord holding the beads was untied when people used them as money so the bead orifice is pretty worn out on the old ones. They are usually chipped and warned down on the outside as well. Today's copies are made in places like India.
During the 60's they were found in great abundance since the hippies wore all sorts of ethnic jewelry. Today I search for them and Ebay seems to be to only place I see them.
Since then ebay is the only place I have seen them for sale.