Necklace Item Number: A9225 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Necklace strung with glass trade beads and clam shell beads. Beads are predominantly blue and cream coloured, and are irregular sizes. Most of the beads have round profiles. They are strung on a cotton thread.
History Of Use
This necklace is made from trade beads. In the past, dentalia shells were traded extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest (prior to European contact) and they appear in the archaeological record spanning back several millenia. More recently blue glass and other trade beads, like the ones in this necklace, became popular items of exchange with Europeans. Anthropologist Homer Barnett notes that traditionally: "body ornaments were not worn as part of everyday dress. They were expensive and so were reserved for ceremonial occasions (1955:76)."
Cultural Context
trade; ceremonial
Item History
- Made in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada ? or Crofton, British Columbia, Canada ?
- Received from Unknown (Unknown)
What
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish: Quwutsun' ?
- Received from
- Unknown (Unknown)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Duncan, British Columbia, Canada ? or Crofton, British Columbia, Canada ?
Other
- Item Classes
- beadwork
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 6