Trade Beads Blue Russians

Trade Beads Small Blue Russians

SOLD OUT These small Trade Beads Blue Russians are faceted and come in a variety of sizes. The beads vary in length from 3mm - 5mm.  This strand has about 100 small beads on it.  These beads come in varying shades and hues of blue. One of a Kind!
Russian explorers traded these type of beads to the Native Americans in Alaska and Canada starting in the 1700s. Their appeal lies in their Blue color and their faceted appearance. Blue Russian Beads likely originated in Czechoslovakia. Russian traders may have purchased them directly from traders in Europe, or possibly from the Hudson Bay Company.    Traders brought a large variety of glass beads to the Americas including Padre Beads, large round Hudson Bay trade beads, Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads, sand casted beads and more.

History of Trade Beads

From the 15th to the 20th century, traders carried European glass beads across the world. Native Americans highly desired glass beads as glass was then an unknown substance in North American. European glass beads, mostly from Venice, some from Holland and, later, from Poland and Czechoslovakia, became popular and sought after by Native Americans. Europeans realized early on that beads were important to Native Americans. Corporations such as the Hudson Bay Trading Company developed lucrative bead-trading markets with them. The Hudson Bay Trading Company was an organized group of explorers who ventured into the North American continent for trade expeditions during the 19th century.
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Read about the History of Native American Trade Beads  

Categories: BeadsTrade Beads

SKU: 2222-003-001

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