CoinCoin.Com
TRADE BEADS
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CoinCoin.Com
TRADE BEADS
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PAGE INDEX:
. TRADE BEADS: HIGH VALUE LOW VALUE SEED & RECENT TRADE BEADS & GENERAL BEADS: AFRICAN MADE BEADS AFRICAN SAND CAST STONE & UNUSUAL MATERIALS MODERN BEADS BOOKS ON BEADS ANTIQUITIES & CRAFTS |
BACKGROUND Along with shells, beads are one of the commonest of ethnographic monies. Like shells, they can be worn as purely decorative objects, so the line between money and jewlery is particularly hard to draw. I have tried to stock mostly older types, mainly made in Venice, and have avoided types which never show up in worn condition. These beads were purchased from Africa Traders from about 1988 to date. Only minimal research has been done, and you may learn more about particular types from Dubin, Liu, Francis, and other works in my references offering. Most bead types have no widely accepted names, so those given below are collector terms, African names, or my own made-up descriptive terms. Generally the older types of beads date to the late 1700's or early 1800s, while the majority of the bead export to Africa was mid 1800s to 1920s. Finding dates of manufacture or use on beads is difficult. ABOUT THE LISTINGS BELOW . . . Click on the thumbnail to see a full strand. You will get the strand in the scan, unless noted "sample" in the description. These are just flatbed scans, not photos, so the actual beads will look much better! Generally beads are sold in 24" strands. The ↔" column before the price shows strand length in inches. Prices in US$. PLACING AN ORDER . . . I charge only the true USPS postal rates, no inflated handling charges. To order (or just inquire), cut and paste the entire line for each item into an email. I will respond with an invoice within a couple of days. Or click the ORDERING INFO link for more details. In a hurry? Glad to take your phone order: 425-369-1725 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM USA Pacific. EMAIL ME |
| NEW ARRIVALS: ALL CATEGORIES JUNE 2008 | ||||||
 | 748 | "Roman" Beads | Alexandria? | Rough, matte beads excavated in southern Sahara regions from ancient trade. Some are clearly wound, others may be drawn or possibly filed wound beads to eliminate gapping when strung. I am not sure whether they are faience or glass. Best guess as to origin would be Alexandria. 748a) Yellow graduated strand ranging 6x3m to 9x7.5m $100; (748b) Yellow & mixed graduated strand ranging 4x2m to 10x7m Some smaller beads are clearly faience and there is a small,valuable Roman eye bead $165; 748c) Green strand ranging 5x3m to 9x7m, some faience $110 | 22-23 | 110.00 - 165.00 |
 | 750 | Silk Road Glass | Bactria (Afghanistan) | About 2005-06 a huge dump of broken glass dating to the 1st C. BC was discovered in Afghanistan (ancient Bactria) along the silk road trade route uniting Rome and China. The glass objects were made using known Roman techniques, and the dump was likely raw material for a bead factory. Local families excavate the fragments and cut it into rough bead shapes, preserving the unique sheen of ancient glass. Samples shown; yours will be very similar. 750a Flat buttons of mainly pale glass with round pendant $45; 750b Flat buttons of darker glass with triangular pendants $45; 750c Rectangular beads average 12x8x5m $52.50; 750d Larger fragments (largest shown 55m) most clearly showing ageing effects of ancient glass $65 | 18-20 | 45.00 - 65.00 |
 | 309a | Chevron, 7-layer | Venice | Single Bead Classic 7-layer Chevron, a.k.a. "Rosetta" bead, possibly first made by Romans, but the earliest Venetian 7-layers are dated to 1480-1580 and heralded the Renaissance of European beadmaking. An important trade bead of the era. See Quiggin color plate, #7. Today larger (length & diameter) beads are worth much more than smaller ones. This is larger than most: 27x40m and clearly shows the inner translucent green layer which is often lost to string wear. | Each | 195.00 |
 | 2182 | Fulani Cosmos Bells | West Africa | Round brass bells with spiral "cosmos" design and stones inside to create rattle. Often found strung with glass beads in Fulani necklaces. Most 15-20m long including loop. Old and showing some wear, but as with most African metal, cleaned. ($1 each per 10 or more bells) More than 200 crammed on a string: | 27 | 1.00 - 125.00 |
 | 536B | Baby Hebron | Palestine / Sudan | Small versions of this early bead from Palestine, shown with two usual Hebron beads for comparison. Can supply either baby or even smaller "infant" size. Each: | 25-26 | 29.50 |
 | 747 | European Hebron | (Sudan) | European-made versions of the ancient Hebron beads made in the middle east and popular in the Sudan. Beads about 20m wide. | 26 | 37.50 |
 | 753 | "Fancy" Beads | Venice | Black barrels with raised, trailed yellow banding. Most 6-11m long. "Fancy" beads with raised elements are usually much more expensive. | 22 | 35.00 |
 | 760 | Czech "Crystal" | Bohemia | Faceted glass bead in a shape typical of cut crystal. Beads 38m long. | 24 | 69.50 |
 | 761 | Czech "Diamond" | Bohemia | Faceted glass bead in a shape typical of cut diamond. Strands available: a, b | 25-26 | 37.50 |
 | 559d | Massai, wound | China? | Pinkish beads favored by the Massai of Kenya. Newly purchased group of larger, wound beads, rather than the usual cane-cut types. Possibly a type of Chinese Padre bead?? Special while they last, $10 each per 5+ strands. Single strand: | 22 | 14.50 |
 | 741 | Aluminium Squares | Ethiopia | In the late 19th Cent. before a cheap extraction process was invented, aluminium was as or more valuable than silver. These look like tarnished silver and may have been worn by Ethiopians as a light-weight substitute. Africans generally ascribe healing properties to metals based on color, and examples of currency objects and bracelets of forms known normally in copper occasionally turn up in well worn aluminum. Bead size ranges 5-7mm square. 741a) "Soft" square beads, filed or worn $15; 741b) "Hard" square beads, less worn, sharper edges $15; 741s) One strand each $25 (Note: there are strays in each strand.) | 30-32 | 15.00 |
 | 649 | Cassamance (Shipwreck) | Senegal | Milk white, rough and irregular tubular shaped beads from Venice, one local name being "Goombah". These have begun washing up on the beaches of Senegal's Casamance region along with green hearts (another crude, earlier type), evidence of a shipwreck. Beads range 4-12m length & width. Not pretty, so the Africans sell them cheaply. 649a) Goombah beads, 24" strands 8.50; 649s) Casamance beads (Goombahs from shipwreck) 32" strands ($10 each per 5 strands). Single strand: | 30-32 | 11.50 |
 | 698 | Abu-Dhabi | Ghana | Tapered cylinders of dark glass with bright trailed stipes, imitating a c.1850s Venetian type which Dubin (#61a) calls "wound glass with polychrome decoration." Made by the Asanati peoples. 698a) Black core, 44 beads mostly 10x14mm, fairly bright $89.50; 698b) Dark green core, 39 beads mostly 10x17-18mm, worn to a matte finish $75.00 | 26-28 | 75.00 - 89.50 |
 | 742 | Natural Coral | Mali | Vivid orange sticks and chunks of coral. They look fragile but are actually fairly sturdy. Rounded ends, nothing sharp. New on market. | 22 | 42.50 |
 | 678c | Green Hearts | Venice | Short strands, older green-hearts, probably 1700's, irregular dark red tubes over greenish cores. This lot from Africa. Bead widths 7-10m, note many cracked. Sample shown. | 22 | 11.00 |
 | 532e | Brass Bicone, Ethiopia | Ethiopia | Fairly modern but well used. Unlike the similar Kirdi (Cameroun) these show seams indicating a laborious wrapping process rather than casting. Africa Direct offers them as trade beads, but cites no evidence. I would guess they are ornamental. Beads 8-9mm long, about 100 per long strand. ($8 each per 5+ strands) | 36+ | 12.00 |
 | 752 | Lemon Beads | Bohemia | Bright lemon-yellow beads, most 7m long. Shown also a tangerine colored strand. Each: | 28 | 11.00 |
 | 745a | Medicine Beads | Venice | Called Medicine Bead by North American Indians, though I am seeking more information. A solid white, slightly ovoid wound bead with incused dark blue dots and trailed pink lines. Beads 10-11mm, 100 on strand (3 beads $13.50; 1/4 strand = 25 beads $50) | 40 | 175.00 |
 | 746 | Nueva Cadiz | Spain? Venice? | Long light-blue tubular bead without layers. The layered versions are known from 16th Century sites in South America, but this variety (Smith & Good, 1982, #34) is associated with 17th Century North American sites. Unusually high quality specimens almost never seen in the layered variety, about 10 x 10 x 78-82mm (b = minor chips $27.50; c = serious chips $16.50). No damage, as "a", several available, each: | 45.00 | |
 | 501c | Nueva Cadiz | Spain? Venice? | Strand of mixed type beads, including the three-layer South American types in dark blue and rarer green, and some North American no-layer types. Longest bead is 43m. Ask for more information, or advise if interested in single beads, as I will likely break this up. | 30 | 375.00 |
 | 213 | King, classic yellow | Venice | Wound bicone beads from Venice, c. 1850s-1930s and highly valued in Ghana. Picard (Vol. V, pl.26, strands 7, 13) quotes a note on an actual sample card "traded for gold." Quiggin's "Aggry" bead, front plate #8 is likely a local sand-cast variant. "Classic" type is burnt yellow with cross pattern of green & multicolor stripes, but green and black beads, and variant patterns occur. Strings available: 213b) 52 beads, classic pattern, avg. grade $125; 213d) 57 beads, classic & mixed, avg. grade $110; 213e) 56 beads, classic, mixed, & smaller beads $100; 213f) 57 beads, classic pattern, top grade $165; 213g) 56 beads, classic & mixed, top grade $175 | 33-36 | 100.00 - 175.00 |
 | 668b | Black King | Venice | Classic bicone made 1850s-1930s, but scarcer black vs. usual yellow, most with eye-like pattern. Graduated strand of 89 beads ranging 10-20m width. | 34 | 165.00 |
 | 675d | King, Stripe & Dot | Venice | Perhaps an early version of King beads, rounded egg-yellow with incused red dots and trailed green stripes. These seem always to come rough and faded. 80 beads on long strand. | 34 | 90.00 |
 | 675e | King & Others | Venice | Mixed strand of higher value beads, including green and yellow king beads. Condition below average showing that these trade beads did some circulating. | 26 | 55.00 |
 | 252 | White Heart (Cournalene) | Venice | Barrel form Cournalene d'Aleppo, Hudsons Bay Trade Beads: Among the oldest of White Heart types. Strings available: 252a) Largest size beads, 12-16m wide. 26" string of 32 beads, longest 25m. Above average condition for this type. $100; 252h) Medium sized beads 9-11m wide. 28" string of 54, largest 18m long. Exceptional grade for type. $80; 252p) Small beads, 6-7m wide. 30" string of48, mostly 15m long. Excellent condition. $70 | 70.00 - 100.00 | |
 | 251 | White Heart (Cournalene) | Venice | Mixed types Cournalene d'Aleppo, Hudsons Bay Trade Beads: Among the oldest of White Heart types. Strings available: 251a) Medium size beads, generally12-16m wide, both round and barrel. 26" string, above average condition. $75; 251b) Medium size beads, generally12-16m wide, both round and barrel. 32" string, above average condition. $92.50 | 75.00 - 92.50 | |
 | 623 | White Heart & Mixed | Venice | Mixed strand of oldest type of Cournalene d'Aleppo white hearts, plus other high-value beads. 623b) Huge 39" strand with several types of oldest white hearts in superior condition, plus King, millifiore, rattlesnake & other high value types $250 | 26 | 90.00 - 250.00 |
 | 258 | White Heart | Venice | Modern Translucent colored glass over a white core, first made in Venice and traded all over the world in a variety of shapes and sizes. Older beads are red, but these (mid?) 20th Century varieties come in additional colors. Newer types traded into Africa: A) Red, 5-6m wide, N) Orange, 6-7m wide, B) Blue, 4-5m wide, C) Translucent Blue (but dirty!), 7m wide, (3 or more your choice $10 each) Each: | 20-23 | 12.50 |
 | 502M | Vaseline, mixed | Bohemia | Mixture of scarcer color Vaseline and similar type beads Made. ca. 1830-1900 acccording to P. Francis. | 22 | 27.50 |
 | 704 | Fulani Womens Necklace | West Africa | Multiple strands of small cane-cut or seed beads with bundled long beads as pendant, copper wire, dyed twine. Fit easily over head. Sold out @ $59.50, new stock and a reduced price! Necklaces available: 704c ; 704d ; 704e ; 704f ; 704g ; 704h | 30-32 | 54.50 |
 | 707 | Mauritania Necklace | N. Africa | Modern composition using old trade beads, some newer beads, shells, spindle-worls, etc. Simple bead clasp. Scan shows both sides. Sold out @ $97.50, new stock and a price reduction. 707c 24 oz.; 707d 18 oz.; 707e 18 oz.; 707f 23 oz.; 707g 23 oz.; 707h 20 oz.; 707j 20 oz.; | 92.50 | |
| SINGLE BEADS, SETS, MIXED STRANDS | ||||||
| Beads come from the African Traders in strands, and that is usually how they are passed on. I have searched out mixed strands, and broken up strands of more valuable types. In the categories beow this one you will find full strands of these types, and many more. The ↔" column shows strand length in inches. | ||||||
 | 651 | Collection | Europe | Mixed collection of medium-value beads. A good way to build a collection of types which would be costly in full strings. Look them up in Dubin or other references. Multiple orders: I can select "different" strings, but there will be overlap. 2+ strands take 10% discount. "Specimen" strands (chosen randomly) for those who want to know exactly what they are getting: 651c ; 651e; 651f; 651g ; 651h; 651j; 651k $27.50 Each | 25-26 | 24.50 |
 | 721 | Collections, high value | Europe | Mainly types which sell for $50-100+ in full strands, much variety within strands. 721a ; 721b ; 721c ; 721d Each: | 27-28 | 85.00 |
 | 576 | Collection: Small beads | Europe, etc. | Mixed strand of mostly later period trade beads, more Bohemia than Venice, plus a few African sand-cast. Some types which do not turn up in full strands. Each is different, samples shown. $5 each per 3 or more. | 24 | 6.50 |
 | 536T | Hebron: Colors set | Medieval Palestine, traded to the Sudan. Yellow are commonest, green scarcer, and dark colors much scarcer. 536Y Yellow bead $3.50; 536S) Yellow and Green beads $6.50; 536T) Set of nine beads, including 3 sizes/shapes of Yellow, a Green, a Blue, a small cut-down bead, plus (not shown) three baby and "infant" sized beads: $22.50 | 3.50 - 19.00 | ||
 | 245K | Proto-bead | Venice | Early trade bead, possible ancestor of both King beads and Cournalene d'Aleppo. Supplier says they are quite rare. 20m wide x about 18m long, chalky yellow. Per bead: | Ea. | 15.00 |
 | 215a | King Bead Disks | Venice | Same porous, chalky yellow glass as classic King bead, but plain disks 12-18m wide. Traded into Ghana. Not much on market until recently. Lot of 5 beads, different sizes. | Lot: | 2.75 |
| 213s | King set | Venice | Wound bicone beads from Venice, c. 1850s-1930s and highly valued in Ghana. Picard (Vol. V, pl.26, strands 7, 13) quotes a note on an actual sample card "traded for gold." Similar to Quiggin's "Aggry" bead, front plate #8. Commonest type is burnt yellow with cross pattern of multicolor stripes, but green, black,and variant patterns occur. Set of four sizes yellow, one each green & black (sample set shown): | Set | 15.00 |
 | 675c | King type, Mixed | Venice | Tubular beads in egg-yolk yellow as King beads, but variable patterns. A broad mixture of varieties on one strand. 59 beads, mostly 9-16mm long, as shown: | 26 | 75.00 |
| 213L | King, damage lot | Venice | Lot of 13 King, including green & black, plus 6 other scarce types, all eroded or chipped | Lot | 12.00 |
| 309a | Chevron, 7-layer | Venice | Single Bead Classic 7-layer Chevron, a.k.a. "Rosetta" bead, possibly first made by Romans, but the earliest Venetian 7-layers are dated to 1480-1580 and heralded the Renaissance of European beadmaking. An important trade bead of the era. See Quiggin color plate, #7. Today larger (length & diameter) beads are worth much more than smaller ones. This is larger than most: 27x40m and clearly shows the inner translucent green layer which is often lost to string wear. | Each | 195.00 |
 | 312 | Chevron, 6-layer | Venice | Single Beads Classic 6-layer Chevron, a.k.a. "Rosetta" bead, dating to late 19th & early 20th C. This bead mfr's sample card is early 20th C. 312a) 17x30m, nice quality $30; 312d) 24x38m, excellent quality $65; 312b,c) Large damaged pieces $12.50 ea.; 312x) Smaller dmaged pieces, width 13-20m, my choice $4.50; 312L) Lot of 5, mostly under 13m $12 | Each | 4.50 - 65.00 |
 | 316 | Chevron, 4-layer | Venice | Set Classic 4-layer "Rosetta" bead, as with the 6-layer, dated to late 19th & early 20th C. 316s) Small beads, widths 5-7m. Lot of 5 pieces, different lengths & cuts. Sample lot shown, yours will differ $5.00; Single Beads: 317) Widths 15-20m your choice as available $3.50 each; | Each | 3.50 - 5.00 |
 | 694 | French Yellow-jacket Chevron | France? | Single Beads Five layer Chevron with yellow stripes on black/ white/ red/ white core. Although attribution is tentative (Peter Francis, Beads of the World p.65) this would be the highest value trade bead produced in France. Dubin (p.116 #14a & p.346) notes that M. Heide examined several million beads and rated this one "scarce" (seen 6-10 examples). a) Longest pieces, 18+m $40; b) Under 18m $35; c) Short $25; ; 694s) Set of four selected pieces, different lengths & thicknesses, best quality. Choose set fromSCAN $120 Per set. | Ea. | 25.00 - 120.00 |
 | 517a | Striped Chevron | Venice | Also called Melon, watermelon, or Molonganame (Muly Yaghalama) beads in Africa Pinched-end, 4-layer Chevron, multicolor stripes over white / red / white. Bead width 6m. 3 beads: | Ea. | 3.00 |
 | 673 | Skunk: Red | Venice | Single beads a.k.a. Crows ey, White heart. White "eye" spots on round red beads, with white core. A high-value bead, traded into Ethiopia. Beads 10-11m. Dubin #95 "wound compound glas wih polychrome dots." Group of 5 beads: $8.00; Single bead: | Ea. | 2.50 |
 | 220L | Donut: Set | Germany | Ca. 1860-97. One of the few trade beads attributable to Germany. 11-13m wide. Lot of five beads, including dark, amber & clear specimens. | Lot | 2.50 |
 | 592 | Fancy, Mixed | Europe | Two white with raised designs and faceted reddish stone; Three patterned turned to show chipped areas. From an old collection. See Dubin #534. Lot: | 15.00 | |
 | 703a | Rattlesnake & King | Netherlands | Irregular white bands on black, "wound glass with trailed decoration" per Dubin #111 Traded into Ghana. 70 Rattlesnake 10-11m wide, 2 Eye or similar, 19 smaller green King beads. | 31 | 100.00 |
 | 250S | White Heart Set | Venice, etc. | Historical Set including early round and barrel Cournelene d'Aleppo forms (Hudsons Bay Trade Bead) from ca. 1830s?. Named for the white core beneath the (usually) red exterior. One of the most widely traded beads, into the Orient, Africa, and Americas. Includes several examples each of later cane-cut, rounded, and seed versions in traditional red and other colors, and modern regular, and seed versions. Types and quantities of beads as shown in scan. The "missing link" shown is not included, but I will offer lots of 3 beads when I can find them. Related types offered separately are the "Proto-bead," (white heart cores), Flower white hearts, and red Skunk beads. | Set: | 12.50 |
 | 262 | Flower White hearts | Venice | Single beads Short barrels, floral pattern in white & blue on red, over white core; basically white hearts with a pattern. Mostly 9-10m wide. Unusually nice condition for this fragile old type. 3 or more chosen for variation in size, color, etc. $4 each; Single bead: | Ea. | 5.00 |
| 623 | White Heart & Mixed | Venice | Mixed strand of oldest type of Cournalene d'Aleppo white hearts, plus other high-value beads. 623b) Huge 39" strand with several types of oldest white hearts in superior condition, plus King, millifiore, rattlesnake & other high value types $250 | 26 | 90.00 - 250.00 |
| 678 | Green Hearts | Venice | Older green-hearts, probably 1700's, irregular dark red tubes over greenish cores. This lot from Africa. Bead widths 7-10m, average 130 per strand.. Typical long strand shown, note some cracked. | 36 | 25.00 |
 | 210s | Millifore: Set | Venice | Wildly popular Mosaic or "many flower" design comes in endless colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes and was produced by a variety of techniques in Venice, late 1800's-1920s & later. For dealers and collectors they are a blue chip bead, increasing in value at least 5% / year since the 1980s. Quiggin p.39, Opitz p.57-58, Dubin #55. Set 0f 7 different lengths, patterns, including long 50+m, and square piece. | Set | 15.00 |
 | 722a | Millefiore & Others | Venice | Collection of 20 yellow + eye cylindircal Millefiore plus 30 other higher value beads, such as Tiger-stripe, an old striped bicone, etc. | 28 | 65.00 |
 | 722c | Millefiore & Others | Venice | Varied strand with 42 Millefiore, flower, tiger, eye, fancy beads, etc. Lots of variety and color. | 27 | 80.00 |
 | 209 | Millifore: Elbow | Venice | Most valuable of Millefiore shapes, long pieces with a bend: 209a) Yellow with red "eyes" 40+mm $9; 50-55m as shown $15; 209b) Green with blue "eyes" 50-55m $17.50 | Ea. | 9.00 - 17.50 |
 | 212 | Talhakimt Pendants | Europe | Single beads Large, flat European-made glass beads copying metal & stone pieces used bythe Tuaregs of the northern Sahara. Called "Niger glass" by my supplier and Zinder beads in Europe. See Der Primitivgeldsammler 1989/1 p.23 #IV1,3., Opitz p.38, 64. Range 47-54m tall. Your choice of color / style if in stock. $8.50 each per 3+; Per one: | Ea. | 10.00 |
 | 593 | Carnelian Glass | Round Glass beads imitating striped carnelian stone, mixed colors, sizes. Most 12-16m wide. Lot of five mixed: | 5.00 | ||
 | 529A | Gumba | Venice | Blue, Yellow & Orange barrels 9-11m long, with Black & White Flower beads between. Low-value trade beads, apparently Gumba is a generic Nigerian name for them. A) | 26 | 9.00 |
 | 566M | Seed & Others | Europe, China | Mixed Strands Various colors, including the more irregular, larger Chinese type, and small white-hearts | 24+ | 8.50 |
 | 212S | Talhakimt, Agate | Europe | Single beads Pink stone European-made beads used bythe Tuaregs of the northern Sahara. Called Zinder beads in Europe. See Der Primitivgeldsammler 1989/1 p.23 #IV1,3., Opitz p.38, 64. Specimens available: a, b, c, d | Each | 15.00 |
 | 263S | Togo Stone (Set) | Togo? | White quartz disc with drilled hole, rubbed in reddish earth. Found in hoards, they are likely a very early bead money, though both their original and modern uses are unclear. The Akhan & nearby tribes would find them exposed after heavy rains, and called them "thunderstones," believing they had come from the sky and had healing properties. 263 Large 30-45mm $14.50; 263R Small 18-25mm, rough $5; 263S Set of four (not five) stones, different sizes, plus one small rough type: | Set: | 37.50 |
 | 720 | "Togo Stone" Beads | Europe | Single beads Glass imitations of the valued "Togo stone" money. First strand seen by my supplier, one of the biggest bead importers. Beads mostly 15-20m wide, 6-10m thick. Lot of 5 beads with some variation in size: $12; Per bead: $3 | Ea. | 3.00 - 12.00 |
 | X223 | Munshi Beads | Sahara | Sngle Beads The Tiv (a.k.a. Munshi) tribe of Shima, northern Nigeria used looped brass beads of average 12mm imitating a seed, valued at 1/4 silver Dirhem of the Mediterranean caliphates. In 1968 Johanssen Nigerian Currencies considered them rare. See Opitz p.41, Quiggin p.60 fig.9, Johansson 50,54, supl14 #65, PS1987/3. From an old purchase Each: $2.50, 3 diff sizes $6.50; mini-string of 12 pieces $21.00 | 2.50 - 21.00 | |
 | X224s | Moulay Beads: Set | Nigeria | Set Derived from older Munshi beads of the Tiv, but used farther south. Beads look like seeds with loops and range 10-14mm. Some are worn, and others have apparently been filed down to bevels. Apparently still made and used, the Traders sell sharp, unused strands much more cheaply. Set of 5 beads showing variations: | Set | 17.50 |
 | 712 | Akoso | Ghana, Togo | Single Beads Status beads of the Kings & nobility of the Ewe (= Krobo?). Ground trade beads are fused in clay moulds. These are well-worn examples of the "classic" period ca. 1870s-1910s. (These types & many others have been made since from bottle glass.) Your choice by bead: 712a,c,e,fLargest & Best, Each: $7.50; 713a-L Each: $4.50; 714a-g Each $2.50 | Ea. | 2.50 - 7.50 |
 | 626t | Bauxite | Nigeria | Single Beads Rough earth-red beads from clay rich in aluminium ore, a distinctive African bead. Set of 3 lengths of 7-11m wide beads. | Each | 3.50 |
 | 237s | Iron: Medium | Nigeria | Single Beads: Three rough 10m wide beads, plus two polished 6m beads. Iron in any form was considered money in Africa. Per set of 5: | Ea. | 3.50 |
 | 645 | Brass: Rough | Nigeria | Crudely cast & variable beads with large central holes. Average 82 beads, 9m across. Recently cleaned, unfortunately. Any metal bead could have been used as money in Africa. Single Beads 3 beads: $3.50; 10 beads: 9.50; Full doubled strand: | 24 | 65.00 |
 | 641L | Natural Amber | Gambia | Single Beads Natural tree amber from Gambia, roughly shaped into beads of 12-18m and holed with a hot poker. Old amber (and imitation) beads were important trade items in Africa. These are old amber, but new beads. Five mixed sizes: | Ea | 4.50 |
 | 638 | Ostrich Eggshell | East Africa | Turkana, Samburu, Ovambo tribes. Rough roundish disks of tough eggshell, center-pierced, about 200 per strand. A well-known odd & curious item & one of few beads from eastern Africa. Opitz p.246, Quiggin p.100,107 | 24 | 25.00 |
 | 2500 | Spindle Whorls | Nigeria | Strung as beads, these are terracotta weights used to spin fabric strands into thread. They are one of the commonest and most universal of artifacts. Age unknown, but not recent. Size 40-50m across. Single beads of my choice are available, a) plain $9; b)with etched designs $12. Strand of 33: | 200.00 | |
| 704 | Fulani Womens Necklace | West Africa | Multiple strands of small cane-cut or seed beads with bundled long beads as pendant, copper wire, dyed twine. Fit easily over head. Sold out @ $59.50, new stock and a reduced price! Necklaces available: 704c ; 704d ; 704e ; 704f ; 704g ; 704h | 30-32 | 54.50 |
| 707 | Mauritania Necklace | N. Africa | Modern composition using old trade beads, some newer beads, shells, spindle-worls, etc. Simple bead clasp. Scan shows both sides. 707c 24 oz.; 707d 18 oz.; 707e 18 oz.; 707f 23 oz.; 707g 23 oz.; 707h 20 oz.; 707j 20 oz.; | 97.50 | |
 | 625s | Sherpa Coral | Tibet (India) | Sets Imitating Coral, these glass beads were made in India and traded into Tibet. Scan shows typical sets. 625s) Set of 9 sizes, shapes, and shades $12.50; 625t) Set of four basic shapes & shades $5.00 | Set | 5.00 - 12.50 |
 | 647S | Peking Glass | China | Single Beads Made for centuries, these are the modern version, still made by the winding process, so cruder looking than older European beads. 10 pieces, mixed colors & sizes: | 2.50 | |
 | 1327 | Fossil Disk (Pi) | China | "Heaven was represented by the ancients in the tangible form of a perforated disk of jade. It was believed that such a token embodied the qualities of solar effulgence, and was closely connected with the powers of Heaven by means of its maagical properties, and therefore the Emperor, being the Son of Heaven, was able to commune and consult with Heaven through the medium o the jade disc." (C.A.S. Williams Outlines of Chinese Symbolism and Art Motives p.235. Offered here are MODERN pieces in black agate, 45mm (1.75") wide, crowded with small marine(?) fossils. Called Gemstone Donuts in jewelry trade. No two are alike. ($39 for 10) | Each | 5.00 |
| TRADE BEADS: HIGH VALUE | ||||||
| These are generally the beads that are oldest, or were most difficult to make. There is a rough correspondance to how they were valued in the trade region. This is the category of beads that has appreciated steadily in price since the 1970s. | ||||||
| 748 | "Roman" Beads | Alexandria? | Rough, matte beads excavated in southern Sahara regions from ancient trade. Some are clearly wound, others may be drawn or possibly filed wound beads to eliminate gapping when strung. I am not sure whether they are faience or glass. Best guess as to origin would be Alexandria. 748a) Yellow graduated strand ranging 6x3m to 9x7.5m $100; (748b) Yellow & mixed graduated strand ranging 4x2m to 10x7m Some smaller beads are clearly faience and there is a small,valuable Roman eye bead $165; 748c) Green strand ranging 5x3m to 9x7m, some faience $110 | 22-23 | 110.00 - 165.00 |
 | 555a | American Flag / Manhattan | Venice | Red & blue stripes on white layer, over red core. Dubin 110b? "Wound compound glass with polychrome stripes." Late 1700s, traded in Great Lakes region and falsely associated with purchase of Manhattan. 67 beads, mostly 11-12m x 12m wide. Some chipped or dull. | 32 | 68.50 |
 | 325 | Black Chevron | Venice? | Single Beads Four layer black. Dubin p.116 & p.346 #12b quotes Michael Heide who examined millions of African beads and found 6-10 examples of this type. 8m wide x 14-17m long, ends not bevelled. Each: | Ea. | 12.50 |
| 309a | Chevron, 7-layer | Venice | Single Bead Classic 7-layer Chevron, a.k.a. "Rosetta" bead, possibly first made by Romans, but the earliest Venetian 7-layers are dated to 1480-1580 and heralded the Renaissance of European beadmaking. An important trade bead of the era. See Quiggin color plate, #7. Today larger (length & diameter) beads are worth much more than smaller ones. This is larger than most: 27x40m and clearly shows the inner translucent green layer which is often lost to string wear. | Each | 195.00 |
| 312 | Chevron, 6-layer | Venice | Single Beads Classic 6-layer Chevron, a.k.a. "Rosetta" bead, dating to late 19th & early 20th C. This bead mfr's sample card is early 20th C. 312a) 17x30m, nice quality $30; 312d) 24x38m, excellent quality $65; 312b,c) Large damaged pieces $12.50 ea.; 312x) Smaller dmaged pieces, width 13-20m, my choice $4.50; 312L) Lot of 5, mostly under 13m $12 | Each | 4.50 - 65.00 |
| 316 | Chevron, 4-layer | Venice | Set Classic 4-layer "Rosetta" bead, as with the 6-layer, dated to late 19th & early 20th C. 316s) Small beads, widths 5-7m. Lot of 5 pieces, different lengths & cuts. Sample lot shown, yours will differ $5.00; Single Beads: 317) Widths 15-20m your choice as available $3.50 each; | Each | 3.50 - 5.00 |
 | 541 | Chevron, 4-layer | Venice | Classic 4-layer "Rosetta" bead, as with the 6-layer, dated to late 1800s. Strand 8-9m width, range 5-10m lengths. ; 541d) 95 beads, incl. some without usual bevel cut ends. Each: | 25 | 80.00 |
 | 671 | Copal Amber | Ethiopia | Copal is an immature form of amber, and was often imitated in plastic by European traders. I do not know whether these are natural copal or "German plastic" but they apper old, and were traded into Ethiopia where they were highly valued. See Francis Beads of the World p.35 for the difficulties of testing. Beads 20x25mm. Strands available: 671a) 27 beads; 671b) 29 beads | 26 | 95.00 |
 | 545f | Dutch Dogon | Holland | Large beads. Crude, wound type, always found well worn. One of the oldest trade beads, made in Amsterdam 1580s & later, but probably also Bohemia, Venice, etc. Dubin #101-102. Long string of 49 with a great variety of sizes, shapes and colors; 3 green beads especially rare. Generally nice condition for Dogons. | 34 | 185.00 |
 | 545 | Dutch Dogon | Holland | Graduated Blue to black, graduated strand of mostly round beads. One of the oldest trade beads, made in Amsterdam 1580s & later, but probably also Bohemia, Venice, etc. Dubin #101-102. 545g $90; 545c $90; 545h 150 smaller beads, widths 7-11m, range of colors & quality $75 | 40 | 75.00 - 90.00 |
 | 545j | Dutch Dogon, Worked | Holland | Graduated strand of varied colors, some showing filing. A few of the smaller pieces are donut beads. Long strand of 111 beads, widths range 9-21m. | 36 | 135.00 |
 | 699a | Eye Bead: Black | Venice | Short, jet-black beds with white or multicolor "eyes." 65 Beads mostly 8-9m wide, 4-6m long. Nice condition. | 26 | 89.50 |
| 592 | Fancy, Mixed | Europe | Two white with raised designs and faceted reddish stone; Three patterned turned to show chipped areas. From an old collection. See Dubin #534. Lot: | 15.00 | |
 | 551 | Feather | Venice | Caramel colored wound bead with dragged decoration. Dubin 71. Most beads 18-25m long. Some partial, chipped, etc. 551c 26"; 551d 23". Each: | 23+ | 75.00 |
| 262 | Flower White hearts | Venice | Single beads Short barrels, floral pattern in white & blue on red, over white core; basically white hearts with a pattern. Mostly 9-10m wide. Unusually nice condition for this fragile old type. 3 or more chosen for variation in size, color, etc. $4 each; Single bead: | Ea. | 5.00 |
| 694 | French Yellow-jacket Chevron | France? | Single Beads Five layer Chevron with yellow stripes on black/ white/ red/ white core. Although attribution is tentative (Peter Francis, Beads of the World p.65) this would be the highest value trade bead produced in France. Dubin (p.116 #14a & p.346) notes that M. Heide examined several million beads and rated this one "scarce" (seen 6-10 examples). a) Longest pieces, 18+m $40; b) Under 18m $35; c) Short $25; ; 694s) Set of four selected pieces, different lengths & thicknesses, best quality. Choose set fromSCAN $120 Per set. | Ea. | 25.00 - 120.00 |
 | 546b | Good Bead | Venice | Brick red barrels with white squares enclosing @. a.k.a.Venetian tic-tac-toe, called "Good Bead" in Ghana. Dubin #73b "wound glass with polychrome decoration." Strand includes some smaller square GB's and two large Russian Blue. Largest bead 7x17m. | 27 | 82.50 |
 | 565 | Good (Eye) Bead | Venice | Circular or "eye" designs on solid background, generically called "good bead" in Ghana. 565c Barrel shape: White & brick red eyes on black. ; 565d Squared, mostly: Yellow & brick red in white circle, on black. Each: | 24 | 80.00 |
| 213 | King, classic yellow | Venice | Wound bicone beads from Venice, c. 1850s-1930s and highly valued in Ghana. Picard (Vol. V, pl.26, strands 7, 13) quotes a note on an actual sample card "traded for gold." Quiggin's "Aggry" bead, front plate #8 is likely a local sand-cast variant. "Classic" type is burnt yellow with cross pattern of green & multicolor stripes, but green and black beads, and variant patterns occur. Strings available: 213b) 52 beads, classic pattern, avg. grade $125; 213d) 57 beads, classic & mixed, avg. grade $110; 213e) 56 beads, classic, mixed, & smaller beads $100; 213f) 57 beads, classic pattern, top grade $165; 213g) 56 beads, classic & mixed, top grade $175 | 33-36 | 100.00 - 175.00 |
| 213s | King set | Venice | Wound bicone beads from Venice, c. 1850s-1930s and highly valued in Ghana. Picard (Vol. V, pl.26, strands 7, 13) quotes a note on an actual sample card "traded for gold." Similar to Quiggin's "Aggry" bead, front plate #8. Commonest type is burnt yellow with cross pattern of multicolor stripes, but green, black,and variant patterns occur. Set of four sizes yellow, one each green & black (sample set shown): | Set | 15.00 |
| 213L | King, damage lot | Venice | Lot of 13 King, including green & black, plus 6 other scarce types, all eroded or chipped | Lot | 12.00 |
| 668b | Black King | Venice | Classic bicone made 1850s-1930s, but scarcer black vs. usual yellow, most with eye-like pattern. Graduated strand of 89 beads ranging 10-20m width. | 34 | 165.00 |
| 675d | King, Stripe & Dot | Venice | Perhaps an early version of King beads, rounded egg-yellow with incused red dots and trailed green stripes. These seem always to come rough and faded. 80 beads on long strand. | 34 | 90.00 |
| 675e | King & Others | Venice | Mixed strand of higher value beads, including green and yellow king beads. Condition below average showing that these trade beads did some circulating. | 26 | 55.00 |
| 745a | Medicine Beads | Venice | Called Medicine Bead by North American Indians, though I am seeking more information. A solid white, slightly ovoid wound bead with incused dark blue dots and trailed pink lines. Beads 10-11mm, 100 on strand (3 beads $13.50; 1/4 strand = 25 beads $50) | 40 | 175.00 |
| 746 | Nueva Cadiz | Spain? Venice? | Long light-blue tubular bead without layers. The layered versions are known from 16th Century sites in South America, but this variety (Smith & Good, 1982, #34) is associated with 17th Century North American sites. Unusually high quality specimens almost never seen in the layered variety, about 10 x 10 x 78-82mm (b = minor chips $27.50; c = serious chips $16.50). No damage, as "a", several available: | 45.00 | |
| 501c | Nueva Cadiz | Spain? Venice? | Strand of mixed type beads, including the three-layer South American types in dark blue and rarer green, and some North American no-layer types. Longest bead is 43m. Ask for more information, or advise if interested in single beads, as I will likely break this up. | 30 | 375.00 |
| 224 | Moulay Beads | Nigeria | Derived from older Munshi beads of the Tiv, but used farther south. Mixed strand with seed-like beads, some clear, some worn, and some apparently filed smooth. String of over 250 beads. Strands available: c, d | 22 | 125.00 |
| X224s | Moulay Beads: Set | Nigeria | Set Derived from older Munshi beads of the Tiv, but used farther south. Beads look like seeds with loops and range 10-14mm. Some are worn, and others have apparently been filed down to bevels. Apparently still made and used, the Traders sell sharp, unused strands much more cheaply. Set of 5 beads showing variations: | Set | 17.50 |
| 245K | Proto-bead | Venice | Early trade bead, possible ancestor of both King beads and Cournalene d'Aleppo. Supplier says they are quite rare. 20m wide x about 18m long, chalky yellow. Per bead: | Ea. | 15.00 |
| 703b | Rattlesnake | Netherlands | Irregular white bands on black, "wound glass with trailed decoration" per Dubin #111 Traded into Ghana. 73 beads, 9-13m wide, most 7-10m long. | 26 | 80.00 |
| 703a | Rattlesnake & King | Netherlands | Irregular white bands on black, "wound glass with trailed decoration" per Dubin #111 Traded into Ghana. 70 Rattlesnake 10-11m wide, 2 Eye or similar, 19 smaller green King beads. | 31 | 100.00 |
| 703c | Rattlesnake & Others | Netherlands | Irregular white bands on black, "wound glass with trailed decoration" per Dubin #111 Traded into Ghana. Includes yell-wveined pieces, eye beads & other s simila to Rattlesnakes. 99 beads, 9-11m wide, most 7-9m long. Nice quality beads. | 27 | 100.00 |
 | 563u | Russian Blue (elongated) | Bohemia | Classic Cobalt Blue, faceted elongated beads, associated with North American trade. Long strand of generally matched beads, nice condition. | 30 | 210.00 |
 | 562 | Russian Blue (squared) | Bohemia | Squarish. Classic Cobalt Blue, associated with North American trade. Faceted, squarish shape, mostly 8m width. Long strands, matched beads in exceptiional condition. Your choice strands L, m. | 29 | 120.00 |
| 562u | Russian Blue (squared) | Bohemia | Darker colors, faceted squarish and round, mostly 10-12m width. Long strand of 76 beads. | 30 | 210.00 |
 | 672 | Skunk: Black | Venice | a.k.a. Crows eye, Eye bead. White or colored "eye" spots on round black beads. Beads are old & some are rough, have lost their spots. A high-value bead, traded into Ethiopia. Beads 10-11m. Strands available: 672a) 65 beads | 26 | 65.00 |
 | 674a | Skunk: Clear | Venice | a.k.a. Crows eye, Eye bead. White or colored "eye" spots on round semi-clear beads. Beads are old & some are rough. A high-value bead, traded into Ethiopia. 70 Beads 10-11m. | 28 | 90.00 |
| 673b | Skunk: Red | Venice | a.k.a. Crows eye, Eye bead, White heart. White "eye" spots on round red beads with white core. A high-value bead, traded into Ethiopia. Beads 10-11m. Dubin #95 "wound compound glas wih polychrome dots." Long strands of 98-99 beads. Sample stand shown. (Half strand $65) | 38+ | 110.00 |
| 673 | Skunk: Red | Venice | Single beads a.k.a. Crows eye, White heart. White "eye" spots on round red beads with white core. A high-value bead, traded into Ethiopia. Beads 10-11m. Dubin #95 "wound compound glass with polychrome dots." Group of 5 beads: $8.00; Single bead: | Ea. | 2.50 |
| 720 | "Togo Stone" Beads | Europe | Single beads Glass imitations of the valued "Togo stone" money. First strand seen by my supplier, one of the biggest bead importers. Beads mostly 15-20m wide, 6-10m thick. Lot of 5 beads with some variation in size: $12; Per bead: $3 | Ea. | 3.00 - 12.00 |
 | 250a | White Heart (Cournalene) | Venice | Cournalene d'Aleppo: Round form Red over white core. Among the oldest of White Heart types. String of 54 beads ranging 11-21m. Cracks, chips, but generally nice for this type. | 30 | SOLD |
| 252 | White Heart (Cournalene) | Venice | Barrel form Cournalene d'Aleppo, Hudsons Bay Trade Beads: Among the oldest of White Heart types. Strings available: 252a) Largest size beads, 12-16m wide. 26" string of 32 beads, longest 25m. Above average condition for this type. $100; 252h) Medium sized beads 9-11m wide. 28" string of 54, largest 18m long. Exceptional grade for type. $80; 252p) Small beads, 6-7m wide. 30" string of48, mostly 15m long. Excellent condition. $70 | 70.00 - 100.00 | |
| 251 | White Heart (Cournalene) | Venice | Mixed types Cournalene d'Aleppo, Hudsons Bay Trade Beads: Among the oldest of White Heart types. Strings available: 251a) Medium size beads, generally12-16m wide, both round and barrel. 26" string, above average condition. $75; 251b) Medium size beads, generally12-16m wide, both round and barrel. 32" string, above average condition. $92.50 | 75.00 - 92.50 | |
| 250S | White Heart Set | Venice, etc. | Historical Set including early round and barrel Cournelene d'Aleppo forms (Hudsons Bay Trade Bead) from ca. 1830s?. Named for the white core beneath the (usually) red exterior. One of the most widely traded beads, into the Orient, Africa, and Americas. Includes several examples each of later cane-cut, rounded, and seed versions in traditional red and other colors, and modern regular, and seed versions. Types and quantities of beads as shown in scan. The "missing link" shown is not included, but I will offer lots of 3 beads when I can find them. Related types offered separately are the "Proto-bead" (white heart core), Flower white hearts, and red Skunk beads.. | Set: | 12.50 |
| 623 | White Heart & Mixed | Venice | Mixed strand of oldest type of Cournalene d'Aleppo white hearts, plus other high-value beads. 623b) Huge 39" strand with several types of oldest white hearts in superior condition, plus King, millifiore, rattlesnake & other high value types $250 | 26 | 90.00 - 250.00 |
| WHITE HEARTS | Venice | SEE ALSO Proto-beads (round White heart cores), Flower White hearts, and Skunk beads. | ||||
 | 724 | Yemen Agate | Idar- Oberstein? | Dark-and-white banded stone beads plus a few strays to make a pleasing necklace. Bead width 9-12+m. 724a 45" $75 ; 724b 36" | 36 | 65.00 |
| 721 | Collections, high value | Europe | Mainly types which sell for $50-100+ in full strands, much variety within strands. 721a ; 721b ; 721c ; 721d Each: | 27-28 | 85.00 |
| TRADE BEADS: MEDIUM VALUE | ||||||
| This category includes some types that were not valued highly in trade areas, but have become popular with collectors. Examples are the Rusian Blues because of their use in North America, and the Millefiore, now valued for its great beauty. | ||||||
 | 549 | Agate Glass | Bohemia? | Sextagonal, Flat, Red-Brown, plus ruby Red glass. Beads 12 & 17m wide. Broken strands. Your choice a), or b): | 25.00 | |
 | 504 | Bauxite Rounds? | Bohemia? | Dark Red disks, possibly imitating the African bauxite bead color?? Used by Yoruba of Nigeria. Beads 9m wide, 2m long. Sample shown. | 24 | 19.50 |
| 593 | Carnelian Glass | Round Glass beads imitating striped carnelian stone, mixed colors, sizes. Most 12-16m wide. Lot of five mixed: | 5.00 | ||
 | 677 | Carnelian Glass | Germany | Visually convincing glass imitations of carnelian agate, from Germany, traded into Mali and Senegal. Most beads 10-15mm. Typical long strand shown. | 30 | 36.50 |
| 312 | Chevron, 6-layer | Venice | Single Beads Classic 6-layer Chevron, a.k.a. "Rosetta" bead, dating to late 19th & early 20th C. This bead mfr's sample card is early 20th C. 312a) 17x30m, nice quality $30; 312d) 24x38m, excellent quality $65; 312b,c) Large damaged pieces $12.50 ea.; 312x) Smaller dmaged pieces, width 13-20m, my choice $4.50; 312L) Lot of 5, mostly under 13m $12 | Each | 4.50 - 65.00 |
| 316 | Chevron, 4-layer | Venice | Set Classic 4-layer "Rosetta" bead, as with the 6-layer, dated to late 19th & early 20th C. 316s) Small beads, widths 5-7m. Lot of 5 pieces, different lengths & cuts. Sample lot shown, yours will differ $5.00; Single Beads: 317) Widths 15-20m your choice as available $3.50 each; | Each | 3.50 - 5.00 |
| 541 | Chevron, 4-layer | Venice | Classic 4-layer "Rosetta" bead, as with the 6-layer, dated to late 1800s. Strand 8-9m width, range 5-10m lengths. ; 541d) 95 beads, incl. some without usual bevel cut ends. Each: | 25 | 80.00 |
 | 609 | Czech Padre, Large | Bohemia | Unusual Orange color. Beads 14-15m wide. | 24 | 27.50 |
| 760 | Czech "Crystal" | Bohemia | Faceted glass bead in a shape typical of cut crystal. Beads 38m long. | 24 | 69.50 |
| 761 | Czech "Diamond" | Bohemia | Faceted glass bead in a shape typical of cut diamond. Strands available: a, b | 25-26 | 37.50 |
 | 572 | Dogs Tooth | Netherlands | Subtly scalloped round black bead with white belt, 9-11mm wide. Traded to the Igbo of Nigeria. Choice of strands: a, b | 24 | 65.00 |
 | 511 | Donut, blue | Germany | Ca. 1860-97. One of the few trade beads attributable to Germany. Widths 7-13m. 511h) Blue, some clear & odd-shaped; 511j) Blue, some black. | 36 | 45.00 |
 | 511Z | Donut: Modern | Faithful reproductions of the 19th Century German beads with usual crude appearance. Colors: Clear, Pink, Brown, Gold, Green. Blue, Dark Blue. $12.50 each if taking 3 or more strands. | 21 | 15.00 | |
 | 511G | Donut: Clear | Germany | Ca. 1860-97. One of the few trade beads attributable to Germany. Graduated strand of about 200, widths 7-13m. Some beads rough. You may take a half strand (beads loose) for half price. | 32 | 45.00 |
| 220L | Donut: Set | Germany | Ca. 1860-97. One of the few trade beads attributable to Germany. 11-13m wide. Lot of five beads, including dark, amber & clear specimens. | 2.50 | |
 | 525 | Dutch Delft | Venice | Ellipsoid with fluid flower patterns in blue or red on bone white base. Venetian imitations of a Dutch bead. Called Dabwa in Nigeria. Beads about 8m wide, 13-16m long. Usually found rough & faded, as though buried. Strands available: 525c) 54 beads, strand 30" $57.50 | 57.50 | |
| 753 | "Fancy" Beads | Venice | Black barrels with raised, trailed yellow banding. Most 6-11m long. "Fancy" beads with raised elements are usually much more expensive. | 22 | 35.00 |
 | 519b | French Cross, White | Venice | Called Bodoum in Africa, white with cross of red, white & black. These white ones were a trade item in the American southwest, which has caused a rapid price rise in the price of those found in Africa. Similar Dubin 70a | 21-22 | 45.00 |
 | 519q | French Cross, White Diagonal | Venice | Smaller, flatter beads with diagonal stripes. Beads 9-10m long, | 21-22 | 24.50 |
 | 519a | French Cross, Yellow | Venice | Called Bodoum in Africa, yellow with cross of red, white & black, similar to a King bead. Supplier says these were "used to buy gold." Beads average 12m long, usually 44-52/strand as length varies. Similar Dubin 70a | 21-22 | 27.50 |
 | 519p | French Cross, Yellow Diagonal | Venice | Smaller, flatter beads with diagonal stripes. Beads 9-10m long, | 21-22 | 30.00 |
 | 708 | Fulani Necklace | Sahara | Brass bells interspersed with trade beads. 708a Blue, white & clear with stripes cane cut, 26" $50; 708b Striped, white-heart & feather beads, 26" $60 | 26 | 50.00 - 60.00 |
 | 517c | Green Chevron | Venice | Also called Melon, watermelon, or Molonganame (Muly Yaghalama) beads in Africa Pinched-end, 4-layer Chevron, Dark green with white stripes showing through, over red, over white. Bead width 4x9m, 55-60 beads per long strand. Sample strand shown. All nice condition. | 28 | 37.50 |
| 517s | Green Chevron | Venice | Also called Melon, watermelon, or Molonganame (Muly Yaghalama) beads in Africa Pinched-end, 4-layer Chevron, multicolor stripes over white / red / white. Bead width 6m, 55-65 | 28 | 30.00 |
| 678 | Green Hearts | Venice | Older green-hearts, probably 1700's, irregular dark red tubes over greenish cores. This lot from Africa. Bead widths 7-10m, average 130 per strand.. Typical long strand shown, note some cracked. | 36 | 25.00 |
| 678L | Green Hearts | Venice | Single Beads Older green-hearts, probably 1700's, irregular dark red tubes over greenish cores. This lot from Africa. Bead widths 7-10m. 7 pieces, mixed sizes from strand as shown: | Ea. | 2.50 |
| 536Y | Hebron: Yellow | Palestine / Sudan | Peter Francis in Beads of the World p.78 notes that, during the disruption of the Crusades, " . . .beadmakers apparently emigrated from Tyre on the Mediterranean coast to Hebron near Jerusalem sometime after the twelfth century. They made beads there, using the salts of the Dead Sea as their alkali. Their glass was opaque yellow and green, sometimes blue and black. The beads were furnace-wound and were popular in Egypt and in sub-Saharan Afriaca." Traded to Sudan, where they are found today. Ugly beads, they look old, with porosity and chips. Single beads $3.50; Graduated strand of 49-52 beads | 49.50 | |
| 536B | Baby Hebron | Palestine / Sudan | Small versions of this early bead from Palestine, shown with two usual Hebron beads for comparison. Can supply either baby or even smaller "infant" size. Each: | 25-26 | 29.50 |
| 747 | European Hebron | (Sudan) | European-made versions of the ancient Hebron beads made in the middle east and popular in the Sudan. Beads about 20m wide. | 26 | 37.50 |
| 215b | King Bead Disks | Venice | Same porous, chalky yellow glass as classic King bead, but plain disks 17m wide. Traded into Ghana. Not much on market until recently. | 30 | 62.50 |
| 675c | King type, Mixed | Venice | Tubular beads in egg-yolk yellow as King beads, but variable patterns. A broad mixture of varieties on one strand. 59 beads, mostly 9-16mm long, as shown: | 26 | 75.00 |
 | 540k | Millefiore: Mixed | Venice | Yellow, brick red, Black; eye pattern. 41 beads, 9-10m wide, most 13m long. Short strand. | 22 | 60.00 |
 | 695b | Millefiore: Mixed | Venice | Black with eye theme. 29 Millie of 2 similar types, plus 19 eye & others with similar themes. Millies 10-14m wide, most 15-25m long. | 25 | 75.00 |
 | 540s | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | 3 Types, uneven mix, mainly yellows & greens. 57 beads, 9m wide, mostly 10-18m long. | 28 | 65.00 |
 | 695a | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | Wavy, irregular multicolor bands; psychedelic! I think this is called a "Kente" design after a type of African cloth. 35 beads, 11-13m wide, mostly 12-25m long. | 26 | 75.00 |
 | 695c | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | Black with bright Yellow eye design. 33 beads 11-12m wide, most about 20m long. | 27 | 75.00 |
 | 695d | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | Green & White barrel design bisected by multicolor banding. 54 beads, most 11-2m wide, most about 16m long. Long strand. | 32 | 80.00 |
 | 695e | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | Sunburst-in eye design, Black, White, brick Red, Yellow. 34 long beads, 8-10m wide, most 25-28m long. Long strand. | 37 | 80.00 |
 | 695f | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | Black with Red & Yellow eyes. 36 beads, 9-10m wide, most about 22m. | 31 | 75.00 |
 | 697a | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | Brick Red, White, Blue, Yellow. 35 large beads 20m wide, most 35/38m bevel cut ends. Very long string. | 46 | 100.00 |
 | 697b | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | Brick Red, White, Blue, Yellow. 56 beads 11m wide, most 16/21m bevel cut ends. Very long string. | 51 | 120.00 |
 | 697c | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | Dark Red, White, bit of Blue, 24 long beads, 10m wide by 30m long. Very long string. | 57 | 110.00 |
 | 697d | Millefiore: Matched | Venice | Blue, Black, Brick Red, White. 40 long beads, 11-12m wide, mostly 36m long. Very long string. | 59 | 120.00 |
 | 696a | Millefiore, Square: Mixed | Venice | 21 Purple with Brick Red, Yellow, Black design, plus 25 with mixed designs. 7m wide, most 12-15m long. | 25 | 75.00 |
 | 696b | Millefiore, Square: Matched | Venice | Black, White eyes with red or yellow centers. 40 beads, 9m wide, most 15-20m long. | 26 | 75.00 |
 | 696c | Millefiore, Square: Matched | Venice | Black with Yellow eyes with Brick Red & White bordrs. 70 beads, 10m wide, mostly 14/18m long bevel cut ends. Very long strand. | 44 | 100.00 |
| 209 | Millifore: Elbow | Venice | Most valuable of Millefiore shapes, long pieces with a bend: 209a) Yellow with red "eyes" 40+mm $9; 50-55m as shown $15; 209b) Green with blue "eyes" 50-55m $17.50 | Ea. | 9.00 - 17.50 |
| 210s | Millifore: Set | Venice | Wildly popular Mosaic or "many flower" design comes in endless colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes and was produced by a variety of techniques in Venice, late 1800's-1920s & later. For dealers and collectors they are a blue chip bead, increasing in value at least 5% / year since the 1980s. Quiggin p.39, Opitz p.57-58, Dubin #55. Set 0f 7 different lengths, patterns, including long 50+m, and square piece. | Set | 15.00 |
| 722a | Millefiore & Others | Venice | Collection of 20 yellow + eye cylindircal Millefiore plus 30 other higher value beads, such as Tiger-stripe, an old striped bicone, etc. | 28 | 65.00 |
| 722c | Millefiore & Others | Venice | Varied strand with 42 Millefiore, flower, tiger, eye, fancy beads, etc. Lots of variety and color. | 27 | 80.00 |
 | 561d | Russian Blue (Africa) | Bohemia | Light Blue Squarish Blue-gray beads, larger 10m width. Traded into Africa & hence not as popular as darker type used in North America | 23 | 40.00 |
| 563 | Russian Blue (elongated) | Bohemia | Darker colors, elongated associated with North American trade, range medium blue through black. Mixed shapes, but including longer, tubular or ellipsoid beads, mostly 3-5m width. Some green beads. Your choice strands a, | 20 | 28.50 |
| 563 | Russian Blue (elongated) | Bohemia | Darker colors, including elongated beads, associated with North American trade, wide variety of shapes and colors, mostly 5-6m widths. Your choice strands L, m, n, o, p, | 24 | 45.00 |
| 563 | Russian Blue (elongated) | Bohemia | Darker colors, including elongated beads, associated with North American trade, wide variety of shapes and colors, mostly 5-6m widths. Your choice strands: LL, mm, nn | 29-32 | 58.50 |
| 563 | Russian Blue (elongated) | Bohemia | Darker colors, including elongated beads, associated with North American trade, wide variety of shapes and colors, mostly 5-6m widths. Your choice strands: pp, qq | 29-32 | 58.50 |
| 562 | Russian Blue (squared) | Bohemia | Darker colors, squarish associated with North American trade, range medium blue through black. Faceted, squarish shape, mostly 5-6m width. Your choice strands a, b | 20 | 27.50 |
| 562n | Russian Blue (squared) | Bohemia | Squarish. Good mixture of colors. Associated with North American trade. Bead widths range 4-11m. | 24 | 60.00 |
 | 548 | Senegal Blue | Venice | Excavated beads from Senegal, product of Venice late 1700's-1800s? Range 2-8mm width. One strand has some green, another soe "Russian blue" mixed in. Strands available: a, b | 28-30 | 35.00 |
| 625s | Sherpa Coral | Tibet (India) | Imitating Coral, these glass beads were made in India and traded into Tibet. Scan shows typical sets. 625s) Set of 9 sizes, shapes, and shades $12.50; 625t) Set of four basic shapes & shades $5.00 | Set | 5.00 - 12.50 |
| 517a | Striped Chevron | Venice | Also called Melon, watermelon, or Molonganame (Muly Yaghalama) beads in Africa Pinched-end, 4-layer Chevron, multicolor stripes over white / red / white. Bead width 6m. 3 beads: | Ea. | 3.00 |
| 212 | Talhakimt Pendants | Europe | Large, flat European-made glass beads copying metal & stone pieces used bythe Tuaregs of the northern Sahara. Called "Niger glass" by my supplier and Zinder beads in Europe. See Der Primitivgeldsammler 1989/1 p.23 #IV1,3. Opitz p.38, 64. Range 47-54m tall. Your choice of color / style if in stock. $8.50 each per 3+ | 10.00 | |
| 212S | Talhakimt, Agate | Europe | Single beads Pink stone European-made beads used bythe Tuaregs of the northern Sahara. Called Zinder beads in Europe. See Der Primitivgeldsammler 1989/1 p.23 #IV1,3., Opitz p.38, 64. Specimens available: a, b, c, d | Each | 15.00 |
 | 670r | Tomato | Venice | Large, slightly translucent beads, irregularly rounded, in yellow. Beads show age: some porosity. Traded into Ethiopia. Beads 22-24mm long, 26 per strand. Sample strand shown. | 23 | 48.50 |
 | 670y | Tomato, Yellow | Venice | Large, slightly translucent beads, irregularly rounded, in brilliant shades of red. Traded into Ethiopia. Beads 22-24mm long, 26 per strand. Sample strand shown. | 23 | 48.50 |
 | 512c | Tubular faceted | Netherlands? | Long, translucent. Supplier says these are called Peme in Nigeria. Four nearly clear beads, 38-40m long. Yellow beads cracked or crazed. | 23 | 37.50 |
| 512f | Tubular faceted | Netherlands? | Long, translucent. Supplier says these are called Peme in Nigeria. Mixture of red, yellow, milky white, 38-40m long. Yellow beads cracked or crazed. | 12.50 | |
 | 502G | Vaseline, green | Bohemia | Translucent forest green in unique short faceted bicone shape. Made. ca. 1830-1900 acccording to P. Francis. Beads 16m wide, usually mixed 7m. Ask for solid green, or with stray color beads included. Once commoner, seldom offered now. Strands: 502Ga short & long; 502Gb short beads; 502Gc Red, etc. mixed in; 502Gd Long, short, spacers, etc.; 502G) As main scan, long beads: | 24-25 | 27.50 |
 | 502R | Vaseline, red | Bohemia | Translucent deep red in unique short faceted bicone shape. Made. ca. 1830-1900 acccording to P. Francis. Beads 14m wide, mostly10m long. Used to be commoner on market, seldom offered now. | 22 | 27.50 |
| 502M | Vaseline, mixed | Bohemia | Mixture of scarcer color Vaseline and similar type beads Made. ca. 1830-1900 acccording to P. Francis. | 22 | 27.50 |
| 250S | White Heart Set | Venice, etc. | Historical Set including early round and barrel Cournelene d'Aleppo forms (Hudsons Bay Trade Bead) from ca. 1830s?. Named for the white core beneath the (usually) red exterior. One of the most widely traded beads, into the Orient, Africa, and Americas. Includes several examples each of later cane-cut, rounded, and seed versions in traditional red and other colors, and modern regular, and seed versions. Types and quantities of beads as shown in scan. The "missing link" shown is not included, but I will offer lots of 3 beads when I can find them. Related types offered separately are the "Proto-bead" (white heart core), Flower white hearts, and red Skunk beads. | Set: | 12.50 |
 | 644b | Iron: Small | Nigeria | Mostly bicone but some irregular, rough beads with large center hold, over 100 oer strand, mostly 5-9m wide. Iron in any form was considered money in Africa. | 24 | 35.00 |
| 644a | Iron: Large | Nigeria | Crudely cast & variable beads with large central holes. Beads run 13-15mm across. Iron in any form was considered money in Africa. | 24 | 65.00 |
| 237s | Iron: Medium | Nigeria | Single Beads: Three rough 10m wide beads, plus two polished 6m beads. Iron in any form was considered money in Africa. Per set of 5: | Ea. | 3.50 |
| 645 | Brass: Rough | Nigeria | Crudely cast & variable beads with large central holes. Average 82 beads, 9m across. Recently cleaned, unfortunately. Any metal bead could have been used as money in Africa. Single Beads 3 beads: $3.50; 10 beads: 9.50; Full doubled strand: | 24 | 65.00 |
| 651 | Collection | Europe | Mixed collection of medium-value beads. A good way to build a collection of types which would be costly in full strings. Look them up in Dubin or other references. Multiple orders: I can select "different" strings, but there will be overlap. 2+ strands take 10% discount. "Specimen" strands (chosen randomly) for those who want to know exactly what they are getting: 651c ; 651e; 651f; 651g ; 651h; 651j; 651k $27.50 Each | 25-26 | 24.50 |
| TRADE BEADS: LOWER VALUE | ||||||
| This category is dominated by the Czech beadmakers and their molded (seamed) beads, who gave Venice serious competition in the late 19th & erly 20th Centuries. | ||||||
 | 681 | Agate Glass | Venice? | Tubular faceted beads. The stone-like striations stop at the lengthwise seam, hardly good for the illusion that they are stone. Late 19th century. Two samples show the range of colors. Bead length 22m | 22+ | 21.00 |
 | 530a | Agate: squared | Idar Oberstein? | Stone beads, roughly losenge shaped plus a few rounded. 29 beads, largest 35 x 10 x 11m. | 24 | 20.00 |
 | 739 | Black Agate (glass) | Bohemia? | Ellipsoid & other shapes in jet black, sometimes with white bands. Traded into Nigeria. Strands available: b, c, d, e, f, g | 22 | 22.00 |
 | 725 | Black ridged | Bohemia? | Short, jet-black beads with 6 prominent ridges, beads about 5x5m. Samples shown. | 28 | 16.50 |
 | 631 | Blue White-heart | Europe | Small cane-cut blue over white core. Beads 2-3m long, range aqua to medium blue. Picard calls them rare. | 24 | 23.50 |
 | 532a | Brass Bicone, Modern | Kirdi, Cameroun | Modern but crude. Worn by single Kirdi women in strands drooping below the belly to hide the genital area, so also called cache sexe beads. 9-10m wide, 12m long, about 54 per strand. | 22 | 18.50 |
| 532b | Brass Bicone | Kirdi, Cameroun | Modern? but crude. Worn by single Kirdi women in strands drooping below the belly to hide the genital area, so also called cache sexe beads. Strand of 40, mixed 15m wide fine style, and 13m wide cruder. | 20 | 45.00 |
| 649 | Cassamance (Shipwreck) | Senegal | Milk white, rough and irregular tubular shaped beads from Venice, one local name being "Goombah". These have begun washing up on the beaches of Senegal's Casamance region along with green hearts (another crude, earlier type), evidence of a shipwreck. Beads range 4-12m length & width. Not pretty, so the Africans sell them cheaply. 649a) Goombah beads, 24" strands 8.50; 649s) Casamance beads (Goombahs from shipwreck) 32" strands ($10 each per 5 strands). Single strand: | 30-32 | 11.50 |
 | 612 | Colorado | Europe | a.k.a. Colodanto, Congoina. Large ellipsoids, mostly 13m wide, 16m long, with strays. Strands available, with lengths noted: a) 26"; b) 24"; d) 21"; e) 25" needs restringing. Each: | 15.00 | |
 | 510A | Cranberry | Bohemia | Dark red-brown when worn, they glow a deep red when held to the sun or a light. About 58 beads per strand. Beads mostly 8-10m. | 21 | 21.50 |
| 510J | Cranberry | Bohemia | Medium red-brown, variable number of beads ranging 7-10mm (two strands shown) | 23 | 18.50 |
 | 518b | Cranberry: Disks | Bohemia | Medium red-brown disks, most 7m, some 9m wide, by 4m long. | 26 | 30.00 |
 | 507 | Czech Cubes | Bohemia | Translucent red with white frosting. Molded, early 1900s. One of types called Kancamba (Kancamba) in Ghana. Beads 8m square, about 70 per strand. Two sample strands shown. | 25 | 18.50 |
 | 605B | Czech Padre | Bohemia | Molded beads imitating Chinese Padres. Most 8m wide. Red, orange, or dark Purple, your choice | 25 | 15.00 |
 | 528c | Dice Beads, Pink | Bohemia | Bevelled rectangles, Imitating dice. Peter Francis notes the irony of gambling-averse Muslims perferring this type of bead. Mostly 5m wide x 10m long. Commonest color, Pink (multiple strands shown) | 22-24 | 13.00 |
 | 528a | Dice Beads, Colors | Bohemia | Bevelled rectangles, Imitating dice. Peter Francis notes the irony of gambling-averse Muslims perferring this type of bead. Mostly 5m wide x 10m long. Solid strands of white, yellow, or blue, your preference as available: | 22-24 | 16.00 |
 | 528b | Dice Beads, Mixed | Bohemia | Bevelled rectangles, Imitating dice. Peter Francis notes the irony of gambling-averse Muslims perferring this type of bead. Mostly 5m wide x 10m long. Mixed strands, may not be an even mix, may NOT be strands or colors shown in scan. As they come: | 22-24 | 16.00 |
 | 528n | Dice, Unused | Bohemia | Shiny new beads, but from an old trading stock, not newly made. | 20 | 11.00 |
 | 552 | Dogbone (Drum) | Bohemia | a.k.a. Drum or Dondo (Ghana). Bright red. 49-50 beads, 10m wide x 13m long. Others sell these at $40+. | 26 | 25.00 |
 | 560 | Dogbone (Dumbell) | Bohemia | Bright red, about 4 x 9m. Called Coral Beads in Togo. a) 30" $25; b) 27" some darker $21; c) 30"? broken strand, including translucent pieces $25 | 25.00 | |
 | 738 | Elbow / Macaroni | Bohemia | Bright shades of red to orange. Traded into Senegal and Mali. Typical beads 7mm wide x 36mm long. Sample shown. | 24 | 20.00 |
 | 706a | Flower-shape | Bohemia | Four knobs around central hole vaguely imitate flower shape. Beads 2x6m. a) Green, as shown; b) Green with some others mixed in: | 20 | 12.00 |
| 678 | Green Hearts | Venice | Older green-hearts, probably 1700's, irregular dark red tubes over greenish cores. This lot from Africa. Bead widths 7-10m, average 130 per strand.. Typical long strand shown, note some cracked. | 36 | 25.00 |
| 678c | Green Hearts | Venice | Short strands, older green-hearts, probably 1700's, irregular dark red tubes over greenish cores. This lot from Africa. Bead widths 7-10m, note many cracked. Sample shown. | 22 | 11.00 |
| 678L | Green Hearts | Venice | Single Beads Older green-hearts, probably 1700's, irregular dark red tubes over greenish cores. This lot from Africa. Bead widths 7-10m. 7 pieces, mixed sizes from strand as shown: | Ea. | 2.50 |
 | 678S | Green Heart Seeds | Venice | Tiny "seed" type dark red over a (very dark) green core. Traded into Southern Africa and Nagaland (India), this lot comes via Thailand. Beads about 2mm. Typical strand shown. | 24 | 20.00 |
| 752 | Lemon Beads | Bohemia | Bright lemon-yellow beads, most 7m long. Shown also a tangerine colored strand. Each: | 28 | 11.00 |
 | 686B | Massai (Black) | Netherlands? | Glossy black square-cut tubular beads of the type called "Baya" in West Africa, where various colors are traded and black beads not preferred. These black are traded to the Massai of East Africa and are one of the types called Massai beads. Beads 5-6m. Typical strand shown. | 28 | 18.50 |
| 707 | Mauritania Necklace | N. Africa | Modern composition using old trade beads, some newer beads, shells, spindle-worls, etc. Simple bead clasp. Scan shows both sides. 707c 24 oz.; 707d 18 oz.; 707e 18 oz.; 707f 23 oz.; 707g 23 oz.; 707h 20 oz.; 707j 20 oz.; | 97.50 | |
 | 617 | Melon | Venice | Striped losenge or tabular beads, imitating Chevrons, most 6-7m wide, 11-13m long. Called Molonganame (Muly Yaghalama) in Ghana. Available strands: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h (& j, 23m blue stripe $12) Many sellers ask $25+. Each: | 24+ | 17.50 |
 | 509X | Modern White-heart | Czech | Modern version of this classic trade bead, still with a rough "wound" look, variety in shape and thickness, and the brilliant red produced by translucent glass over a white core. Wide holes for easy stringing. About 100 beads, 7m wide. $10 Ea / 3 strands. | 23 | 14.50 |
| 638 | Ostrich Eggshell | East Africa | Turkana, Samburu, Ovambo tribes. Rough roundish disks of tough eggshell, center-pierced, about 200 per strand. A well-known odd & curious item & one of few beads from eastern Africa. Opitz p.246, Quiggin p.100,107 | 24 | 25.00 |
| 230 | Ostrich Eggshell | East Africa | Single Beads Turkana, Samburu, Ovambo tribes. Rough roundish disks of tough eggshell, center-pierced A well-known odd & curious item & one of few beads from eastern Africa. Opitz p.246, Quiggin p.100,107. Ten beads, mixed sizes: | 3.00 | |
 | 531a | Padre: Tourquoise, White | China | Chinese bead which travelled all over the world as part of the Spanish silver trade. Best known in North America where they were popular with Southwest US Amerinds, especially the turquoise blue color. Made ca. late 18th-early 19th C. by the primitive winding process. These are old, circulated Padres, not the more regular, often-seamed European copies. Commonest Turquoise Blue or White, Each: | 22-24 | 15.00 |
 | 531b | Padre: Scarce colors | China | Less common colors: Red, Yellow, or traslucent Blue (green SOLD). There are mixed shades within each string, and sometimes strays of other colors. | 22-24 | 16.50 |
 | 531d | Padre: Scarcest | China | Scarce colors: Black, | ||