Trade Beads

Item number Nb644 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

One hundred and twenty round, translucent red glass beads with opaque, white centres; thirty-nine translucent blue cylindrical, hexagonal, double chamfered glass cut beads; one round opaque black glass seed bead. (Strung on plastic string.)

History Of Use

Beads were extensively traded on the Northwest Coast from early trading contacts, throughout the 19th century. Facetted ultra-marine beads were commonly obtained in the north, from Russian traders, and the red beads were a typical Hudson's Bay Company item. Seed beads were common everywhere.

Narrative

The red and white beads are commonly called 'Hudson Bay beads' or cornaline d'allepo, and the facetted blue beads are called Russian beads, although they (and others) were probably made in Italy, France, or Czechoslovakia and distributed through various European cities, including Brussels. (The plastic string was added at acquisition.)