Antique (1800s) White and Blue Glass Trade Bead Necklace.  The necklace is composed primarily of so-called “Skunk” beads (white beads with blue spots), which were one of the earliest types of Venetian Trade Beads to be produced exclusively for trade, as early as the 1730s.  Among Skunk Beads, the blue and opaque white are said to be one of the rarest varieties.

Glass trade beads served as a common currency for European traders in the New World from the 15th to the 20th century.  Beads had long been an important adornment and trading currency for many Native tribes of North America.  European beads quickly became popular and sought after, as glass was a previously unknown material in North America.  

Number of Strands: 1
Necklace Length: 23”