CHEROKEE-SUMERLIN TRADE BEADS "THE BEST IN THE WEST"

,Venetian red white heart, trade beads, were at the top of the list for trade beads in North America. That is, they were most desired for decoration beading on clothing and footwear. The beads come is sizes from about 1mm to 8mm. The beads in this offer were probably traded between 1836 and 1850. From the condition of the beads they were in the ground for quite some time. When the dams started going in on the Columbia River during the 1950's and into the 1970's, many sites were dug up and removed to new sites. Many sites were not found and were covered over with water. For many years, when it was legal to do so, one could walk the sandy shores of the Columbia River and kick up beads under the surface. Other surface found beads were found where Indian peoples camped or traded. Places such as Ft. Walla Walla on the banks of the Big Bend of the Columbia River, and The Dalles, Oregon where the "bead patch" was found. Ft. Vancouver, headquarters for the Hudson Bay Fur Company in the Northwest. All were popular areas of trade where Indian peoples from as far east as Idaho and as west as the Pacific Ocean came to trade their goods. Our beads are throughly researched by visiting various Northwest Indian owned Museums and BLM Museums. Also by visiting and trading with our many friends and relatives on numerous Native American Reservations located here in the Northwest. And, of course, our extensive research library dealing with ,trade beads, of the Northwest and all of North America.

Most Venetian millefiori beads were made for the African trade. Most were made during the early 1900's. This is not to mean that Venetian bead makers did not make millefiori prior to the eary 20Th entury, as they did. Venetian bead makers were making millefiori beads for better than 2,000 years or more. For some reason they quit making the bead and did not re-introduce it until the early 20Th century. Most of the millefiori beads traded to African peoples are now in America, in private collections ,and in museums. Many early 1900 beads have been held by private collectors and are just now making their way into the market place. I am talking about beads that were never been circulated until this year, 2008.

We have very carefully researched our Columbia River and Alaskan trade beads. At least to the extent that we could. Our beads have been looked at by leading experts and passed muster. We have traveled extensively in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska visiting with Native American peoples, visiting their Cultural Centers, making sure that the beads we see can validate the beads we hold. We have also visited private museums in the Northwest cross checking their beads with ours. One of the best museums with dozens of colored plates of beads traded in the Northwest and Alaska is: The Burke Museum at the University of Washington at Seattle. Below is a link to the Burke Museum on line visitors center. When you open this page click on "ethnology" department. Be prepared to view approximately 50 pages of beads, etc. http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/index.php

These are two very intersting beads. Several year ago it was nothing to walk into an antique store and find both beads traded in Africa and beads traded in America. That is not too likely to happen anymore as most beads are now in the hands of collector or in museums. We came down off the east facing slopes of the Cascade Mountains and spotted a tiny antique store near the Yakama Reservation. While we were browsing we found 1/2 strand of these beads hanging in the back. Most certainly we made a quick deal and left with the beads. A year or two after that we listed two of the beads. Within a day or two we received an email from a bead collector stating that she owned the other half of this strand. And, she would sell them to us if we wanted them. Now we have a full strand and a few left over. The beads were traded on the Columbia River plateau sometime between 1854 and about 1880. These are very rare beads in that only a very, very few were made. I have yet to see another of this same bead listed on eBay.

The journals of the Vitas Bering expedition of 1741 contains the earliest reference to glass beads in Alaska. There were already beads in Alaska when Bering dropped anchor in the Alutian Island chain. Since trade goods went from east to west it is not far fetched to believe that trade goods also went from west to east. Among the trade goods from the east had to be glass trade beads. This information is documented in early and modern history books. The porcilane beads were cheaply purchased by English, French, Dutch, and independant traders. They were traded to our American Indian peoples at very high prices. Most of the first glass beads in North America were the white tile beads, small blue faceted beads,and reddish colored green heart beads. All of which were cheap to buy.

An advanced bead collector once shared with me the value of collectiong contemporary beads. His words are backed up in the book "Beads" by "Janet Coles * Robert Budwig." There are many fine bead collections made up of contemporary and imitation beads. The teal faceted bead and the teal vasaline bead seem to be the favorites among our regular buyers. They are very good good beads for design jewelry makers.

Bodom and Akossu beads have only been available to American buyers for about three years now. They are still not understood by many novice bead collectors. The Bodom and Akossu beads are both very rare beads, ultra rare would be a better word. Only a few sellers have this bead available for eBay buyers. In Africa the more damage to either bead raises it's value accordingly. It is easy to tell one bead from the other. The Bodom bead can be identified by it's black inner core. The Akossu bead can be identified by it's gray inner core. Both beads commond prices from $18 to $600 dollars, depending on size, age, and damage. Unlike the Africans, American buyers want beads that are not damaged. The Bodom and Akossu are both West African tribal/clan names.

Let's establish one thing right up front. The so called "Russian blue" and "Russian Faceted" are nicknames. The Bohemian bead makers made these faceted beads. They grinders made 6-faceted beads, 7-faceted beads and even 10-faceted beads. The seven facted bead was made at least from the early 1700's to the early 1800's. Sometime during the early 1800's the Bohemians switched to making faceted beads with an inner core. This lasted up to 1850. The last of the faceted beads were made about that time. The coastal Indian Peoples from Alaska to the Oregon coast called this bead "Chief" bead. Peter Francis, Jr., in his book "Beads of The World" identifies the blue padre type bead as the "Chief" bead of the Northwest. The coastal Indians of yesteryear and today still call the blue faceted bead "Chief" bead. The lighter blue bead is called "Slave Bead." It was used by the people to buy slaves. The cobalt blue, 7-faceted bead, with no inner core, is still a much coveted bead by the coastal Indian Peoples. Trade with this bead is going on today, but mostly, they want the bead for ceremonial items. John's little sister, honorary, is of the Makah peoples on the Olympic Penninsula. They and other tribal peoples we met along the Washington coast do not recognize the blue padre type bead. I have a blue bead from the Fenstermaker collection. The tag, in Fenstermakers handwriting says "Chief" bead, Washington (state.) Our beads are furnished with a Statement of Provance, a Warranty Statement of Authentication, and a Statement of Authentication.

The Venetian black ambasador bead is probably one of the very best beads, as well as one of the most beautiful beads made by Venetian bead makers during the last half of the 19Th century. The black ambassador was made in oval form as well as the long bicone form. It was made in the color black, which is the one we see the most of. It was also made in the color blue, which we see the least of. The blue beads were not made in the same numbers as the black bead. Unfortunately, the best of the blue beads that were/are available were damaged. Finding a clean blue ambassador or similar blue floral in perfect condition is a chore. The best are in the hands of collectors and can be viewed in museums. Over the years we have collected many Venetian black amabassadors. We still have several of both forms in our person collection. One thing we notice today is the quality of the beads is declining. That is probably due to the fact that most of the beads in Africa are now in America. What we see on eBay now is beads that have probably been excavated. One can pretty much tell by the looks of the bead if it has been under ground for some time. The long black and blue bicone ambassadors, because of their very shape, are easily chipped on the ends. Many of the long bicones in our own collection are chipped. These are the ones that we purchased on a strand. In order to get the good ones we are forced to take the bad ones too. Their is no negotian with the African bead runners on this. Still, we have managed to find and keep sone very nice beads. As bead collectors we had two motives from the beginning, one, to collect beads. And two, to buy beads as an investment in our future. We found that beads were a better investment than trading on Wall Street.

The original white heart trade bead is known as a Cornaline d' Aleppo or white heart bead. The first Cornaline d' Aleppo beads were green heart beads. The green heart bead was made by the millions beginning about 300 year back and more. The Venetians first attempt at making a white heart bead was in 1825. The bead produced was a pinkish white color. They were made in 1825 and continued to be made until 1850. In 1850 the Venetians found the right combination of ingreients for making the pure white heart trade bead. When we use the term 'white heart' we are talking about the inside layer of the trade bead. One will see red white hearts, green white hearts, blue white hearts, and more. Some, such as the bead with a yellow/orange colored outter layer and the inside white core are very unique and rare beads.