How can I tell the difference between vintage glass beads and plastic?

The easiest way to tell if a bead is glass or plastic is to feel it. Glass beads will be cooler to the touch, whereas plastic beads will be closer to room temperature and warm up quickly in your hands. Another test you can perform is to listen to the sound. Glass has a distinctive ring since it’s harder whereas plastic is softer and has a duller sound. Shop a range of vintage glass bead pieces on 1stDibs.

Vintage Tribal Beads

Category

20th Century Nigerian Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Cotton, Hardwood, Beads

Pair of African Yoruba Beaded Armchairs

$5,800 / set

Extraordinary Vintage Beaded Vest

By Anon Pairot

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Extraordinary tribal vest with beaded fantasy motif including rainbows, turtles, dolphins and

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Beads

Extraordinary Vintage Beaded Vest

$1,250

White Beaded African Chair from Nigeria

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Nigerian white beaded chair with unique crown detail.

Category

Late 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

White Beaded African Chair from Nigeria

$2,500

White Beaded Yoruba Chair

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Made in Nigeria by Yoruba tribal people. All over glass beads with large leaf pattern.

Category

Late 20th Century Vintage Tribal Beads

White Beaded Yoruba Chair

$3,500

Pair of White African Beaded Yoruba Chairs from Nigeria

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Yoruba chairs in rare all white beading. Sold as pair.

Category

1980s Nigerian Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Pair of White African Beaded Yoruba Chairs from Nigeria

$3,900

Vintage Colorful Fully Glass Beaded Tribal Neck Piece with Knee-Length Strands

Located in Houston, TX

Statement tribal beaded neck piece. Multi colored glass beads on a leather backer. 18" Neck

Category

1960s Vintage Tribal Beads

Vintage Colorful Fully Glass Beaded Tribal Neck Piece with Knee-Length Strands

$375

Purple and White African Beaded Belt

Located in Oakland Park, FL

Purple and white African beaded belt with cowrie shells and backed with red Ikat woven textile

Category

1980s African Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Shell, Beads

Purple and White African Beaded Belt

$255

African Mask, Royal Beaded Elephant

Located in Atlanta, GA

African royal beaded elephant mask - Bameleke Tribe, Cameroon - Fully beaded over wooden base

Category

20th Century Cameroonian Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Beads

African Mask, Royal Beaded Elephant

$2,995

Red and Tan African Beaded Belt with Soapstone Rosettes

Located in Oakland Park, FL

Red and tan African beaded belt with soapstone rosettes and backed with black textile. Size: 30.5

Category

1980s African Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Soapstone

Red and Tan African Beaded Belt with Soapstone Rosettes

$255

African Tribal Fine Ba Haya Dance Shield Tanzania Interior design

Located in London, GB

African tribal fine Da Haya Dance A wood dance shield with carved with geometric patterns and

Category

Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Beads

African Tribal Fine Ba Haya Dance Shield Tanzania Interior design

$814

Lot of 10 Tibetan Necklaces

Located in SOMIS, CA

A collection of beautiful Tibetan necklaces. Materials include bone, glass, faux amber/turquoise/coral, silver metal and resin. Each piece is meticulously hand made by the Tibetan wo...

Category

20th Century Tibetan Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Beads

Lot of 10 Tibetan Necklaces

$699

Red, White and Blue Beaded Artisanal Table Broom

Located in Oakland Park, FL

Red, white and blue beaded artisanal table broom. Seagrass and beads. Size: 10.5' H x 3"W x 1" D.

Category

1990s African Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Beads, Seagrass

Red, White and Blue Beaded Artisanal Table Broom

$55

Pair of White Beaded African Lounge Chairs

Located in North Miami, FL

Meticulously assembled by hand in Nigeria using tiny white glass beads over a canvas and wood frame

Category

Late 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Bamboo, Beads, Canvas

Pair of White Beaded African Lounge Chairs

$2,500

Pair of Vintage Embroidery African Tribal Lumbar Pillows with Cowries Shells

By Atelier Lam

Located in Oakland Park, FL

applique raffia African artisanal textile decorative lumbar pillows with Cowries shells and wood beads. In

Category

1960s Congolese Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Shell, Cotton, Linen, Beads, Raffia

Pair of Vintage Embroidery African Tribal Lumbar Pillows with Cowries Shells

$750

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

By antique textiles galleries

Located in Oakland Park, FL

and appliqué raffia African decorative lumbar pillow with labyrinth pattern and orange beads woven on

Category

1950s African Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Cotton, Beads, Raffia

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

$110

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

By antique textiles galleries

Located in Oakland Park, FL

and appliqué raffia African decorative lumbar pillow with labyrinth pattern and orange beads woven on

Category

1950s African Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Cotton, Beads, Raffia

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

$450

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

By antique textiles galleries

Located in Oakland Park, FL

and appliqué raffia African decorative lumbar pillow with labyrinth pattern and orange beads woven on

Category

1950s African Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Cotton, Beads, Raffia

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

$450

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

By antique textiles galleries

Located in Oakland Park, FL

and appliqué raffia African decorative lumbar pillow with labyrinth pattern and orange beads woven on

Category

1950s African Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Cotton, Raffia, Beads

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

$450

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

By antique textiles galleries

Located in Oakland Park, FL

and appliqué raffia African decorative lumbar pillow with labyrinth pattern and orange beads woven on

Category

1950s African Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Cotton, Beads, Raffia

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

$450

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

By antique textiles galleries

Located in Oakland Park, FL

and appliqué raffia African decorative lumbar pillow with labyrinth pattern and orange beads woven on

Category

1950s African Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Cotton, Beads, Raffia

Vintage Kuba Orange and Black Handwoven Patchwork African Decorative Pillow

$450

Vintage Brown and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Textile

Located in Oakland Park, FL

embroidered applique design and tribal woven pattern. Embroidered wood beads and cowrie shells. In shades of

Category

1970s Congolese Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Raffia

Vintage Brown and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Textile

$675

Vintage Brown and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Textile Fragment

Located in Oakland Park, FL

. Patchwork and embroidered applique design and tribal woven pattern. Embroidered wood beads and cowrie shells

Category

1970s Congolese Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Raffia

Vintage Brown and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Textile Fragment

$175

Vintage Brown and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Textile Fragment

Located in Oakland Park, FL

embroidered applique design and tribal woven pattern. Embroidered wood beads and cowrie shells. In shades of

Category

1970s Congolese Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Raffia

Vintage Brown and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Textile Fragment

$135

Vintage Yellow and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Applique Textile

Located in Oakland Park, FL

and embroidered applique design and tribal woven pattern. Embroidered wood beads and cowrie shells

Category

1970s Congolese Tribal Vintage Tribal Beads

Materials

Raffia

Vintage Yellow and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Applique Textile

$375

Folk Art Under $1,000

Antique and Vintage Folk Art

Tribal Folk Art

20th Century Folk Art

African Folk Art

Folk Art on Sale

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Vintage Tribal Beads For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of vintage tribal beads for sale on 1stDibs. Each of these unique vintage tribal beads was constructed with extraordinary care, often using trimming, beads and fabric. Vintage tribal beads have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Vintage tribal beads are generally popular furniture pieces, but folk art and mid-century modern styles are often sought at 1stDibs. Vintage tribal beads have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Berber Tribes of Morocco, Audrey Werner and Masha Archer are consistently popular.

How Much are Vintage Tribal Beads?

Prices for vintage tribal beads start at $44 and top out at $16,900 with the average selling for $1,080.

Questions About Vintage Tribal Beads

How can I tell the difference between vintage glass beads and plastic?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
The easiest way to tell if a bead is glass or plastic is to feel it. Glass beads will be cooler to the touch, whereas plastic beads will be closer to room temperature and warm up quickly in your hands. Another test you can perform is to listen to the sound. Glass has a distinctive ring since it’s harder whereas plastic is softer and has a duller sound. Shop a range of vintage glass bead pieces on 1stDibs.