Beads have been made for thousands of years. They were originally hung on a cord to count prayers and gradually became a symbol of prayers. The word "bead" is actually derived from the Middle English word "bede", meaning prayer. Beads were used by the ancient Egyptians as decorations and as prayers when they were put on their mummies and mummy cases. They have been found in burials of many cultures: American Indian, Saxon and the Roman catacombs to name just a few. Most of the beautiful glass beads that were used in the fur trade with the American Indians originated in the glass factories of Murano, Venice. The same beads were traded in Africa, Asia, S. America and around the world for gold, ivory, tea, opium, etc.
The Venetians made glass beads as far back as 1,000 A.D. and held a near monopoly of the bead industry for nearly 600 years. To protect their trade secrets the Venetians went so far as to imprison the nearest relatives of any defecting glass worker and if the worker would not return, an assassin was sent to kill him.
Many people collect these historic trade beads as a hobby and an investment; others buy them to restring into fashionable and exotic necklaces. Most will agree, it is fascinating to ponder the travels and past owners of these ancient artifacts. We would like to stress that many of these beads are becoming increasingly rare and difficult to obtain, some that we used to offer are no longer available, and most have become more costly as worldwide demand for these old beads increases. Some beads listed below will no longer be available when our stock is sold. We feel that within a few years the majority will be unavailable for sale except by the bead.
DEALERS INQUIRE.
NOTE: Often bead strands will have a few beads of another type mixed in. Most collectors take strands apart to restring and view a slight mix as a bonus, getting some different beads without buying a different strand. Some choice/rare beads are found on mixed strands. If you need unmixed strands please let us know when you order so we can check stock.
AB01 AMBASSADOR (FRENCH) BEADS
Approx. 1/2" diam. black bead with about 6 red & white or blue & white splashes around the top and about the same around the bottom. The middle of the bead has two red and white swirl bands with a band of gold dust between them. These are very old, rare and incredibly beautiful.
(A) 24" necklace which graduates from 1/2" to 5/8" diameter, some beads show great age, others are near new looking, a beautiful old necklace-$750.
A1) 44" strand, spectacular-$1500.
Single Beads:
(B) Good condition, showing wear-$18 ea.
(C) Excellent condition-$25-$30 ea.
(D) Similar to above with slightly different design/pattern, also very beautiful-$18 ea.
AB01.5 AMBER BEADS
We have only two strands of these left.
(A) 5/8" diam x 3/4" long, 28" strand, small grape size & shape, brown amber-$95.
AB02 ANCIENT EXCAVATED GLASS BEADS
Approx. 2,000 years old, made in Rome or Egypt during the Ptolemaic Period. Excavated near Timbuktu on the African continent, an ancient center along one of the continent's oldest trade routes. All of these beads are a beautiful translucent blue-green to green; although many have been buried for so long that the surface has "decayed" and has a whitish look. A few have acquired the rare and very desirable iridescent skin found occasionally in excavated beads. We have two sizes of these beautiful and mysterious jewels, approx. 20"-22" strands, supply is very limited, we recommend that you order now.
(A) Small approximately 1/8" diam beads, mostly grayed surface-$15 per string; select quality with more/nicer color-$25.
(B) Large 1/4" - approx. 3/8" diam, graduating in size, lovely strand, could be worn as is-$55. Select strands-$75.
AB04 ANWALI
Light blue chevrons 1/8" diam. or a bit larger light blue beads with darker blue & red stripes (occasionally we have some very old beads nearly all red), very nice, & old.
(A) 22" strand priced at just-$19.
(B) 22" strand of 1/4" diam.-$22.
AB05 BEAD COLLECTION NECKLACE
A wonderful mix of antique, new and gemstone beads such as: amber, feather beads, sand beads, chevrons, white hearts, fancy Venetians, gemstone, mille fiores, raku glass, Peking, dragon eyes, Russians, Mardi Gras, old brass, etc. Can be displayed, worn as is, or taken apart for restringing.
(A) 24" Outrageously good looking, a great sampler-$35.
(B) 32" necklace-$45.
AB06 BLUES MIX
Approx. 1/8" diam. bead mix of light, medium & dark blue beads with some blue greens. Overall effect is something you'd hope to see in an archeological excavation-$15.
AB07 BLUE "TURQUOISE" GLASS
3/16" diam. round semi opaque, beautiful little mandrel wound beads. These look just like miniature padres, only 8 left-$15.
AB12 BRONZE TRIBAL MASKS
From Nigeria, approx. 2" tall by Yoruba of Nigeria, with braided eyebrows and facial tattoos. Great patinae on these and we have a number of different faces, each with a loop for necklace wearing-$16 ea, 2 for $10 ea.
Beautiful dark blue with red & white star centers. The glass was layered in canes, then cut, the design resulting from the layering and revealed on the cut end gave them the names of "Star" or "Rosette" beads. A very popular design and certainly one of the most fascinating of the early trade beads. These are getting very rare and will soon be out of reach for most buyers. (Approx. 20" strands.)
(A) 1/8" diam. to 3/16" at times, some have the thin disc "aja" look, nice-$38.
AB14 CHEVRONS GREEN ROUND
(A) Approx. 3/16" diam. round beads, blue-green with red and white star pattern exposed on sides. Beautiful old beads, only-$28.
(B) Same but more olive colored-$18.
So called because of the lovely 1/4" wide x 1/2" long oval shape. These beads are blue /green, or olive in color with red & white star pattern revealed on the bead ends.
(A) Beautiful old beads, priced at only-$24.
AB16 CHRISTMAS BEADS
38" long strands of old brightly colored beads. Great gifts for kids or collectors!
(A) Small (approx. 1/16" diam) round, tube and barrel shaped beads, some solid colors, some striped or spotted, a veritable cornucopia of color, all glass. Some are old some not so old but interesting. Wearable as is or use for restringing-$3.
(B) Medium Approx. 1/8" diam.-$4 strand.
(C) Large Approx. 3/16" diam. -$5.
1 each of A, B & C-$10.
AB17 COBALT BLUES
Approximately 1/8" diam, a beautiful deep blue translucent bead-$8.
AB18 COLORFUL BLACK & WHITE FANCY BEADS
Rare Kitty Fisher eyes, ambassador beads with other blacks with colorful designs, some mixed colors. 20" strand, looks great, nice necklace-$75.
AB20 DELFT BEADS
(A) Dutch bicone shape 5/8" long, white with blue squiggles, old /rare, very good condition, only a few beads are damaged. We had them years before, have 3 strands now, when they're gone there will probably be no more-$65.
(B) We have 4 strands with some very weathered beads, some broken beads & a few other old interesting beads on the strings -$32.
AB22 DUTCH RINGS OR DOGONS
1/2" diam. lovely deep transparent blue glass bead, large hole in the center. These date as early as the mid 1600s, getting scarce, only-$60.
AB24 EYE BEADS
Also known as "Kitty Fisher's Eyes" after a noted actress who died in 1767, these are a black or very dark blue bead with white glass eyes that have red or blue centers ("pupils") which were pressed into the bead before it had cooled and hardened. Each bead was hand made in the home of a Venetian glass maker, they were traded throughout the U.S. in the early to mid 1800s, the Crow Indians were particularly fond of the fancy beads.
(A) These are the best old ones with many small eyes-$85.
(AA) 30" exceptional strand-$125.
(B) Same but don't look as old, the red and blue spots are brighter-$60.
(C) Made this century, black with white spots, nice but newer-$18.
AB25 FANCY BEADS
Rounds, barrels, cylinders & discs of yellow, pink, red, blue, black or green beads with colorful stripes and patterns. These beauties were made in Venice in the 1800s, 22" strand of mixed beads-$95, SALE PRICE-$75!
AB25.3 FANCY BLUE VENETIANS
3/8"diameter dark blue beads, some are matte, some shiny, all with a white trailed design.
B) These are in good condition, but the white swirls are worn off in many places. 22" strand-$45.
AB26 FEATHER BEADS BLUE
We have a few strings of these again, translucent cobalt blue with red and white feather stripes. These are incredibly beautiful but rare, 24"-$55.
AB27 FEATHER BEADS RED
Approximately 1-1/4" long, transparent red, tapered oval beads, have white and blue feather swirl pattern, exceptionally attractive, 22" strand-$125.
AB27.2 ISLAMIC PRAYER BEADS (MUSBAHA)
1/2" long egg shaped hollow silver metal beads with a long central bead (larger egg shape with 1 1/4" tube at bottom) are from Ethiopia. Colorful yarn tassels are tied to the bottom of the tube, 40" long, nice-$30.
AB27.3 KOLI-MUSICAL MACARONI TUBES
3/8"-5/8" diameter slightly curved tubes of blue, yellow, green, red, etc. glass. Makes a pleasing "tinkling" sound when jostled together-$12, 3-$27.
AB29 MILLE FIORES (thousand flowers)
Made in Venice as early as the late 1500s. Mostly cylinder or barrel shaped, a few are round or oval, they come in many different colors and a variety of complex inlaid designs in the "flowers". Some of the most colorful old trade beads ever made, strands approx. 22" long. We have just obtained a collection of the prettiest and best mille fiores we've ever had. We have 2 sizes, if you don't have a preference we usually send mediums LOW SALE PRICES!
(A) Smaller approx. 3/8" diam. x 1/2"to 3/4" long-$55.
(B) Larger approx. 1/2" diam. and up to 1-1/4" long, priced at $55 per string, Super select strings if available-$65.
(C) Long strands approx. 30-32" long, select strings, these are ready to wear with great color variations-$75.
AB30.6 OSTRICH EGG SHELL BEADS
Necklace made of 3/8" to 1/2" diam. discs of thick ostrich egg shell, "pecked" round and polished by hand. A unique 24"-26" necklace-$25.
AB31 PADRE BEADS
3/8" diam. round, satiny opaque glass beads, mandrel wound, made in Venice and reported to be the first bead brought to America with Coronado in the mid 1500s. These are approx. 22" long strands.
(A) Turquoise Blue color beads, a favorite-$24.
(B) White beads-$21.
AB33 PADRE BEADS-JUMBO (DOGONS)
5/8"-3/4" diam. beads, very rare, first ones we've had in years.
(A) Dk Blue
(B) White
Strand (24")-$100, singles-$5.
Made in China during the 1800s for trade in America & around the world, 3/8" diam. round beads.
(A) Dark blue clear 22" strands-$18.
(B) Solid light blue 30" strands -$24.
AB35 PINK & WHITES
3/8" diameter white mandrel wound beads with 2-3 pink lines of glass applied vertical and horizontal with dots of blue glass dabbed into the surface. These are hundreds of years old and quite beautiful. There is only one left--that's it, no more. 24"-$95.
AB36 PIPE STONE
We have 2 sizes of these beautiful red/brown color old stone cylinder shaped beads, all on approx. 24" strands. Occasionally some of these beads are long cylinders (2-3 times the diameter); strands of longs are $5 extra. For select quality/patinae add $5.
(A) up to 3/8"diam.-$15.
(C) 1/2" diam.-$24.
AB37 PUNTEK
Ancient opalized palmwood fashioned into tubes & round beads over 500 years ago in Burma; stripes & eyes were etched into the stone's surface (the tan stone is dark, etched designs are light). Several shapes & patterns; 3/8" dia. tubes x 1" long, 1/2" dia. round beads & 3/4" diamonds. Old & unique, only a few 36 long" mixed bead necklaces, authentic, original issue, rare.-$200.
AB38 RED CANE BEADS
Clear dark red approx. 1/8" diam. by 1/2" long tube, old and lovely, 24" string-$15.
Large 1/2" diameter red beads (color varies from rose to cranberry) with white "eyes" or polka dots. Old beads, pretty, rare and definitely "flashy"-$95.
AB40 RED, WHITE & BLUE STRIPES
Approx. 1/8" diam., white with red and/or blue stripes-$9.50.
Faceted opaque light blue beads.
(A) 1/8" diam. these were traded extensively by the Russians on the west coast of the U.S. and in Alaska. Evidence also indicates that the English may have first traded these on the east coast of the U.S. These date back as early as the late 1700's and were priced at $18 per string.
AB43 "SAND" BEADS BLUE-GREEN
Blue-green colored opaque glass, the only ones we've ever seen this color, 1/4"to 5/16" diam. short tube shape, smoothed with age. The prettiest sand beads we've had-$28. SALE-$18.00.
AB44 "SAND" BEADS
These are old, have character and are quite nice, excellent for doing Indian crafts. Available in three "flavors": Blue, Southwest looking Yellow with Turquoise & Red markings, Green & White. A short cylinder shape 1/4" diam. with rough surface, look old & are attractive,-$12 ea., 3- $30.
AB45 "SAND" BEADS STRIPED
(A) 3/8" diameter x 3/8" long white-gray ellipsoid or shorter cylinder beads with blue, brown, tan or red stripes
(B) gray & black cylinders with white stripes.
Subtle & old, were-$15, CLOSEOUT- the last of them-$12.
AB46 SAUDI (ARABIC) BEADS
24" long necklace of 1/2" diam. translucent red, blue or green flat discs strung through the edge. Each disc bead has 8 gold stars and a crescent moon on each side. At the bottom of the necklace are two spade shaped (playing cards spade) matching color glass pendants with the Arabic word for God (Allah) written in intriguing gold squiggly/scribbly Arabic language. Muslim prayer beads, unusual, your choice of colors-$39.
AB47 SNAKE BONE GLASS
Interesting interlocking beads look like snake vertebrae. These are 1800s circa, the strings are 24" long.
(B) 3/8" diam. Mixed strands of blue & pink, blue & white, were-$18, CLOSEOUT-$12!
(A) 1/2"-3/4" long oval shaped (melon) glass in a variety of colors, all have stripes running the length. We have blue with yellow & black, brick red with white & black, white with blue, yellow with blue & green, yellow with black & green and white with green, red & blue. We also have mixed strands, your choice or ours-$15.
(B) Collection Necklace of mixed beads /colors 24" approx. 50 beads, wear or restring-$22.
AB48.6 STRIPED ROUND BEADS
(A) Approx 1/8" diam. round beads with stripes. White with blue or red stripes, blue with black & yellow, yellow with green and more-$6 ea., 3 different strings-$16.
(B) 1/4" diam., same colors as above-$18, 3-$45!
AB49 TERRA COTTA BEADS
These were hand made centuries ago. (Rumored to be as much as 1,000 years old, archaeologists are not certain). They have been excavated from an ancient trade route which passed through the legendary Timbuktu (Africa). Colors vary from tan & gray to reddish brown due to the pigment in the clay. Bead designs vary greatly. A 40" long string-was $12, we bought the entire gatherings of a great trader, CLOSEOUT-$6!
AB50 TURQUOISE "ROUNDS"
Approx. 1/8" diam., shaped like seed beads, some strings are pale, others darker turquoise color opaque glass. Nice old beads-$12 strand.
AB52.5 WEDDING BEADS
1/2" long fat teardrops of cobalt blue, powder blue, blood red, jade green, black, opal glass, yellow, orange and striped beads. These are strung tightly through the tips of the drops so they stand out from the cord. A riot of color, these are beautiful-$45.
1/8" diameter opaque porcelain looking beads have a matte finish and varying tones/shades degrees of dirty white. Great looking old beads.
(A) 22" long strand-$10
(B) larger 1/4" diameter beads, same as above-$12.
(A) Small a bit under 1/8" diam. -$18.
(B) Medium approx. 3/16" diam. -$28.
White hearts are becoming increasingly difficult to get. At present we are fortunate to have a small collection of rare, rosy pink white hearts. These are the most sought after and beautiful of all the white heart variations. They cost more than the standards due to their beauty and rarity. Supplies are dwindling and these are probably the last we'll have. These rosy pinks are priced at:
(A) Small-$21.
(B) Medium-$35.
AB54.5 "WHITE HEARTS" ELIPTICAL (EGG) SHAPED
1/2" long x 3/8" diam., rich, beautiful old beads, 24"strand-$125.
AB56.3 WHITE HEARTS-BLUE ROUND
Supplies are dwindling and these are probably the last we'll have.
(A) Beautiful 4mm beads are medium blue with a white core -$10 for 22" strand.
(B) Lovely 6mm beads are sky blue with white core, these are really nice. Fourteen strands left-$18 for 22" strand.
(C) 6mm dark blue, white core, nice, not as old, only 2 left, 24" strand-$12.
AB58 YELLOW JACKETS (SMALL)
Striking yellow beads with vertical black stripes, they have a white core with a thin red ring, rather unusual.
(A) 1/8" diameter, only 2 strands left, were-$27, SALE-$21.
BOONE TRADING COMPANY 1-800-423-1945