Item number: A51

Year: AD 1880-1930

Material: Black Aventurine glass

Size: 36 x 12.61 mm (per ball)

Weight: 36.18 g

Provenance: Tribal Art Africa 2023

This artefact is a strand of black sandstone glass trade beads that served as currency, traded from Venice to Africa during the period between AD 1880 and AD 1930. 

African trade beads have been widely utilised in trade, decoration, and religious ceremonies. They may be strung into necklaces or bracelets or used to adorn clothing, simultaneously serving as a form of currency in exchange. These beads hold special symbolic significance within African societies, often employed to signify social status, marital status, or religious beliefs. 

The majority of African trade beads were manufactured by European or Venetian artisans, particularly during the 15th to early 20th centuries. These beads exhibited diverse shapes, colours, and patterns, reflecting the varied preferences and cultural characteristics of the local inhabitants. 

During the era of the slave trade, African trade beads were commonly regarded as a commodity and a form of currency. European traders transported these beads to Africa, engaging in trade with local tribes and nations, involving commodities such as gold, ivory, and timber. Simultaneously, the trade beads were utilised to acquire slaves as labour, hence earning them the moniker “slave beads.” 

Aventurine, a common mineral, represents a variety of quartz characterised by the presence of platy mineral inclusions, causing a sparkling effect known as “aventurescence,” most commonly observed in green hues. Its nomenclature derives from the Italian word “Aventura,” signifying chance or occurrence. This stone is cherished for its aesthetic appeal, often employed in ornamentation or jewellery crafting due to its captivating appearance.

物件編號: A51

年代: 公元 1880-1930 年

材料: 黑色砂金石玻璃

尺寸: 36 x 12.61 mm / 粒

重量: 36.18 g

來源: 非洲藝術部落 2023

此物件為一串黑色砂金石玻璃貿易珠貨幣，為公元1880-1930年間從威尼斯貿易到非洲的貨幣。 

非洲貿易珠被廣泛用於貿易、裝飾和宗教儀式。它們可能被串成項鍊、手鍊或用來裝飾衣物，同時也可能被用作交換的貨幣。這些珠子在非洲社會中具有特殊的象徵意義，並且經常用於標誌社會地位、婚姻狀態或宗教信仰。 

大多數非洲交易珠是由歐洲或威尼斯的製造商製作的，特別是在公元15世紀至公元20世紀初的時期。這些珠子可能有各種不同的形狀、顏色和圖案，反映了當地居民的各種偏好和文化特點。 

在奴隸貿易時期，非洲交易珠通常被當作一種貿易品和貨幣。歐洲貿易商攜帶這些珠子前往非洲，通過貿易珠與當地部落和國家進行貿易，可能包括黃金、象牙、木材等，同時也透過貿易珠獲取奴隸作為勞動力，因此貿易珠也被稱為「奴隸珠」。 

砂金石（aventurine） 是一種常見的礦物，為石英的一種變體，由於石英中含有片狀礦物質，在光線下會產生閃閃微光，稱作「砂金效應」，以綠色最為常見 。其名來自義大利語Aventura，意為機會、偶然。這種石頭因其美麗的外觀而深受人們喜愛，因此常被用於裝飾或珠寶製作。