Padre Trade Beads

Padre Glass Trade Beads

Padre Trade Beads were an early glass trade bead that originally came from China. They got the name Padre bead from the Spanish priests who wore them. Our Padre Trade Beads are available in a limited number of colors. Each package holds about 100 reproduction beads of varying sizes.

Select from 9 colors:

• Black
• White
• Trans Honey
• Yellow
• Green
• Trans Olive Green
• Trans Baby Blue
• Light Blue
• Cobalt Blue

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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