Antique Bloodstone Beads Pendant Heart – Cambay India Bloodstone Trade Beads

Antique Green Bloodstone Bead Pendant (Cambay India)

Beautiful old green agate bloodstone trade bead pendant in the shape of a heart, made in Cambay, India, and used in historic African trade networks. This rare Antique bloodstone beads piece is well‑worn with character, showing minor age wear and light chipping (see photos).

• Size: 31 mm × 25 mm × 9 mm
• Perforation diameter: approximately 1.5–2 mm

This heart pendant is from an original group of bloodstone beads crafted in Cambay and known as Antique bloodstone beads or old bloodstone beads. These bloodstone trade beads were hand‑drilled by skilled artisans in Cambay using traditional techniques. The bead’s patina and wear illustrate its journey through African trade routes, where bloodstone trade beads were highly valued in Ghana and across West Africa from the 1800s onward.

About Cambay Bloodstone Beads

The beads originate from Cambay (now Khambhat), in western India, where bloodstone (heliotrope) was hand‑drilled by expert craftsmen using bow‑drills and fine abrasive techniques. These Antique bloodstone beads were widely exported across the Indian Ocean and played a significant role in the African trade economy. In Ghana, trade beads like these were exchanged for goods, used as status symbols, and held cultural importance.

Bloodstone trade beads remain treasured today both for their aesthetic appeal and historical significance, especially the Antique bloodstone beads produced in Cambay, some dating back to the early 19th century or earlier. Each bead carries stories of craft and commerce that span continents.

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TribalGH’s Archives: sold Trade Beads collection
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