Trade Beads in Berlin-Mitte
At PERLIN in the Hackesche Höfe, high-quality trade beads and careful handcraft come together to create individual jewelry with a distinctive style.
Trade Beads
01
Trade beads were used for centuries as adornment and as valuable goods in exchange. Many of the historic glass beads that survive today were produced in European centers such as Venice and Bohemia and traveled along international trade routes, especially to Africa, but also to Asia and the Americas.
02
In their local contexts, beads were far more than decoration. They were exchanged, passed on, and worn as jewelry, as signs of belonging, or as markers of social status. They were also used in barter.
03
Historic trade beads are defined by extraordinary variety. Colors, shapes, patterns, and production techniques differ from piece to piece. Signs of use and small irregularities speak of a long past and make many old trade beads sought-after collectors' items. At PERLIN, selected beads are recombined and crafted into individual jewelry pieces.
At PERLIN
At PERLIN, old trade beads are not presented like museum pieces. Instead, they are newly arranged with a keen sense of color, materiality, and form. The result is contemporary jewelry shaped by objects that already carry history.
Products
Here you will find a selection of the jewelry we offer. Every piece is shaped by color, form, high-quality materials, and its own story. Custom creations made to your wishes are, of course, always possible.
About
PERLIN brings together experience, material knowledge, and a fresh eye for color.
Owner
Birgit Laun founded PERLIN in 2000 out of her own passion for collecting trade beads, in the historic Hackesche Höfe (Courtyard 4) in Berlin-Mitte, where this very special shop can still be found today. She shapes PERLIN through her eye for special one-of-a-kind pieces, strong color combinations, and the story behind every single bead. Her selection brings together collectible objects and wearable jewelry in a deeply personal way.
Family
PERLIN continues to evolve through closeness to the shop, an openness to new perspectives, and a shared joy in recombining old trade beads again and again. Felix Laun has been part of this work for years.
Contact
Mon to Fri12 pm - 6 pm
Sat12 pm - 6 pm
Extraby appointment
