02/12/2026
Russian Blue, faceted, glass trade beads for sale!
These iconic, antique, valuable beads were created in Bohemia, CZ, from the 1700s to late 1800's.
They became famous when international traders encountered Indigenous Cultures from Alaska to Oregon, as an accepted form of currency in trade for furs, oil and other products supplied by tribal peoples.
To this day, they are highly collectible and used for cultural and decorative purposes.
The nickname 'Russian' came from the timeline that Russian Fur Traders made contact with Alaska tribes, and were introduced during trade interactions. Russians did not make these beads - Bohemia glass artisans did.
When stamped metal (and eventually paper) currency was established on the North American continent, glass trade beads became obselete, they couldn't compete with gold, silver and copper. However, over the centuries, Russian Blues continue to increase in value for historical, cultural and collectible worth.
I hand clean each bead to remove 'grime & time' that accrued over 300 years of travel, storage, trade and wear. They are in great condition!
Color is a vibrant sky blue-cobalt shade, many beads have a thin inner light blue ring, and hole size is approx 2-3 mm. Russian Blue beads were hand crafted by skilled Bohemian glass artisans hand faceted each bead, so no two beads are perfectly identical.
Size range is approximately 5 mm (about the size of an average pencil eraser). This size is ideal for earrings, necklaces, basket decoration and other small craft projects.
Click my Etsy Shop link at the top of page! ✨️
Provenance: I can provide who these beads came from (nationally recognized expert/collector).
