Trade Beads

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

A woman found a bead near the shore here in Victoria. It might be a Japanese "ojime bead", or a netske, but I thought it might be a trade bead. The jury is still out, but along the way I stumbled on this article;

http://www.thefurtrapper.com/trade_beads.htm

[Tsalagidave]

Do you have a picture of the bead Charles?

I have a few in my collection that I've picked up over the years so. I figured I could make a comparison to a couple of originals I have. Thanks for the site link too. I know a little on the subject but not as much as I'd like to. A blessing about this great Earth is that even if I could live 1000 years, I'd die only knowing a small fraction of all there ever was.

-Dave

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Dave; Here is the link to the facebook group page. I hope it works; 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/312703430332/permalink/10155728514615333/

[Professor Marvel]

Dave; Here is the link to the facebook group page. I hope it works; 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/312703430332/permalink/10155728514615333/

My Dear Sir Charles -
it appears one must login
can you download it it to a public thingy?

yhs
prof marvel

[Tsalagidave]

It looks like a mid to late 19th century chinese porcelain decorative bead. The white with blue trim was a common motif imitated by the Dutch and English . Chinese were usually the best quality. This could be a laborer artifact instead of a trade item. I've known of other small chinese artifacts, including opium paraphernalia to come from this region.

-Dave

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Sorry Perfessa! I've ex sosted my confuser skills, or the lack thereof. It looks like Dave managed to see it. Help would be appreciated.

P.S; Sent you an email of the notification message. It might work?

[Tsalagidave]

You need to be signed into Facebook before you click on the link.

-Dave

[Professor Marvel]

Thank you kindly for the email Sir Charles, the photos came thru!
I had not seen one like this before, I am more familiar with the European trade beads, as used on northern plains beadwork,
and a small smattering of the examples of Fur Trade Fooferaw.
Thanks Dave for the analysis.

yhs
prof marvel

[Professor Marvel]

It looks like a mid to late 19th century chinese porcelain decorative bead. The white with blue trim was a common motif imitated by the Dutch and English . Chinese were usually the best quality. This could be a laborer artifact instead of a trade item. I've known of other small chinese artifacts, including opium paraphernalia to come from this region.

-Dave

Per Dave's posting, the meager evidence ( ie found in / near Vancouver area ) supports it being a Chinese Immigrant artifact vs specific trade goods, as the port cities of the west coast were entryways for  Chinese/Asian Laborers at the time.

thanks again!
yhs
prof marvel