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Post by riverrat on Jul 30, 2008 20:04:22 GMT -5
This site does www.happymangobeads.com I use antique trade beads as decorations on my sheaths to add a touch of realism, and I stumbled across this place.Have'nt seen'em yet, but I ordered a strand of brick red green hearts, and a strand of yellow padres. Thier prices are fair, and service is very good, as is selection. Check'em out if you need trade beads, you won't be sorry you did, and shipping is free if you elect standard US Mail!
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Post by longtrail on Jul 30, 2008 20:21:37 GMT -5
Ive never seen the yellow padres, only the sky blue. I have had a strand of brick greenhearts for years. You don't see them too often. I'd like to see the yellow padres when you get them. Are they greasy? Interesting. So Padre is a style of bead as there is a crow and pony as well? Priced any Black Chevrons lately? ouch. I saw a guy at a nmlra, pork eater's rendezvous once, who had a beautiful, large black chevron on a long leather thong and he walked it around where ever he went, dragging it on the ground. He was giving it that antique look.
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Post by riverrat on Jul 30, 2008 21:16:13 GMT -5
I don't think the yellows are greasy, but it will still be a couple of weeks before I get home. They have some sky blue padres, as well as some whites. They also have large redhearts and several different sizes of chevrons, but thet get a little pricey.I did'nt see any crow or ponies on the site but do intend to ask about them. I'll take some shots and post them when I get home.
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Post by Cody ( The Patriot ) on Jul 30, 2008 22:46:38 GMT -5
I have a question about trade beads.Ive been looking and I see Awale chevron,french cross,padre,venitian,brick,African,ect,ect trade beads .Which kind were used in the fur trade days here?
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Post by riverrat on Jul 30, 2008 23:09:12 GMT -5
From what information I have been able to gather, all that you mentioned would have been manufactured during the fur trade era, and traded here as well as other countries around the world during the same era.
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Post by Cody ( The Patriot ) on Jul 31, 2008 7:26:34 GMT -5
Thanks .I knew the seed beads were from Chz. but didnt know the others were from anywhere else just couldnt figure African or venitian being here but I guess they aint no farther away .
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Post by beaudro on Aug 2, 2008 8:55:18 GMT -5
Here's a little info on trade beads, for the purpose of the rocky mountain rendezvous trade period. Most of this is copied from archeological finds. there were three beadmaking guilds. The Margariteri concentrated on plain drawn beads. The Paternosteri made drawn beads of more complexity, including chevrons. The Supialume made lamp-wound beads, though their apogee would come later.
L. S. Dubin, in her book THE HISTORY OF BEADS From 30,000 B.C. to the Present, pages 118-119, tracks the evolution of the chevron bead from 7 layer to 5 layer down to 4 layer. From the first quarter of the 17th century to the last decade of the 18th century where she clearly shows the cessation of Venician production of chevrons. She indicates that chevrons reappeared briefly around the second quarter of the 19th century.
Hudson's Bay Company's bead value for a made beaver: six Hudson's Bay beads three light blue Padre (Crow) beads two larger transparent blue beads.
By the 1500’s, the demand for glass beads had grown to the point that Venetians were sending drawn glass tubes to Bohemia. There the glass tubes were broken into beads, polished, and sent back to Venice. The Bohemians (Czechoslovakia) had been making glassware, vases, and cups since the twelfth century.
Captain Lewis had this to say about Padre beads and the Indians tribes along the Columbia River…only the blue and white beads were acceptable, the most desired, are the common cheap, blue beads called "Chief Beads"…. Padre beads were made in a variety of colors, but blue and white were the most sought after by the Northwest Indians.
the river crow (mandan) desire most the blue beads of priest they seem to have much want for the white as well. Red and blue stroud cloth and these beads they will accept with great gratitude. (padre beads).
We have gathered many beads in our digs, and commonly the blue and white padre beads show up. A few greasy yellows from time to time, but they show no wear of usage in the center at all. This may or may not indicate they were worn as jewelry, but they were found with others that show signs of usage. A few of the blue's have deposits of copper on the surface of the interior center, possibly they were strung with copper wire, but there is little evidence supporting that theory. Above all , and to answer your question, the sky blue and the white padre are more common than the others, I have no information on the so called "lewis and clark" bead, i don't beleive it was around until much later. To answer your second question, the Cornaline d'Aleppo, or white heart does not show up in trade records. The Green heart however does , and the hudson bay records also indicates their cornaline was at that time still a green heart. It's possible they could show up as a third or fourth in the most common bead. Now your third question, did africa ever produce a trade bead in the fur trade era? None to my knowledge. Many beads were produced where glass makers had supreme knowledge and skill of doing so. In our modern world today many beads are replicated in Africa , possibly due to cheap labor and resources. Amanda Wallace
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Post by Cody ( The Patriot ) on Aug 2, 2008 11:33:26 GMT -5
To make sure I understand all that .The blue and white padre beads are more common then some greasy yellow and the chevrons (4 layer)were around about the time of the beaver trade days? And I guess sead beads from Chz. I just dont want to get some old trade beads that were worn in Africa and not in America by some trapper or Native American.
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Post by beaudro on Aug 2, 2008 22:32:42 GMT -5
Cody, yes the blue and white padres are more commonly seen in the rendezvous period. Most everything on the chevrons is about them being seen again in the second quarter of the 19th century,, 1850. CZECHOSLOVAKIA was spitting out all kinds of beads too however, but just not seen as much during those times. It could be cost, availability, or it just wasn't preferred, but they were around. Europe was the prime maker of glass beads, they were sent to Africa as well as the americas. Most good copies are made in Africa today. As far as seed beads go, there were many. It's mentioned on about every trade list. The hot debate is about what size they are, most will agree that during the early 1800's seed beads were sold in an 8mm size. However, small beads were used all over the world, egypt for example, even back in the 12th century. So small seed beads could have been around, in many shapes and colors. Quill work seems to be more common in the fur trade, and very little beadwork can be dated with any certainty. I have a few beads, and I usually carry around trade beads to demonstrate what a trapper would carry with him. It would have been in every party of men to carry beads to trade with. All they wanted was beaver. Three light blue Padre beads;six Hudson's Bay beads, two larger transparent blue beads got you one beaver. You can see how many beaver were killed? 11 beads for one beaver , that took a bunch of flattails to make a necklace. A few pounds of beads and a good trade with your native buddy and your set for life.
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Post by beaudro on Aug 2, 2008 22:47:55 GMT -5
Cody, i hope i havn't missed your point entirely, i'm guessing your just looking to find beads to wear. I'm checking out riverrats link to happymango. I havn't bought from a bead store in a long time, but they seem a little pricey on the french cross (cross trails). I don't think the padres are too bad however. Im partial to the cross trail bead, and the last strand i bought I gave about 20 bucks for. In the last few years, i've only bought from a few people i know and trade with. I find them on ebay from time to time also. For most of the padres i don't think mango is too bad, thanks for that link river rat. When you get a few collected lets start trading, i'll try to post a few pics of mine when i get the camera issue resolved.
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