Tuareg collectibles in Portland USA

ign="center">to the Africans, while Lewis and Clark supposedly
Beads have lain in graves next to the bones oftook the preferred black and white glass to the
their wearers for time immemorial. Their universalNorth West Native Americans. West Africans liked
appeal may stem from their similarity to theto wear real snake vertebrae as necklaces so the
human eye. Early man collected stones thatVenetians manufactured glass beads shaped like
nature had equipped with holes thus allowing forsnake vertebrae for the African trade, etc.
threading and easy transport. Then followed theNow the circle has closed. Hundreds of years later
purposeful and painstaking drilling of holes andwe, the descendants of the original European
eventually the actual manufacturing of beadsartisans and sea farers are buying the beads back
from bone, shell, ceramics, seeds, stones, metalfrom the native populations to which our
and eventually glass. The first glass beads wereancestors traded them. These beads are well
crafted thousands of years before Christ intraveled and I wished they could tell their stories.
various parts of the world, particularly WesternOnce dismissed as trivial ornaments these trading
Asia and Egypt.beads have become objects of admiration for us.
Originally beads of stone, glass, or other materialsOver the last 50 years there has been an
found in nature were treasured for their medicinal,incredible increase of interest among bead
magical, symbolic or protective value to eventuallycollectors. Trade beads’ monetary value
serve as wearable currency and now primarilycontinues to grow. They are cherished for their
admired for their beauty and as decoration.use in jewelry and many bead collectors will spend
However, still now, in some parts of the worlda pretty penny for these often patina-laden
many a mother will hang an “eyestrings of glass.
bead” (dotted bead) around herWhen I speak of “antique”
child’s neck to shield against theEuropean glass in the descriptions of my jewelry
“evil eye”. Also some people stillthe prospective buyer should know that the vast
attribute various medicinal qualities to precious andmajority of the beads I use “lived
semi-precious stones or metals and then wearin” West Africa for the last 200 years. I
them for healing or protection. Many of the beadsalso use contemporary beads, vintage glass
used in the jewelry offered here were taken tobeads, semi precious stones beads as well as
the New World by European seafarers andtribal and modern silver to compliment the antique
traders out to discover, conquer and exchangetrading beads. This gives my jewelry a folk art
for gold, ivory, spices, silk and other preciousfeel with contemporary appeal.
merchandise. Starting around the 15th century andReport this article
then particularly the slave trade brought hundredsThis article is copyright
of thousands of tons of glass beads to theSource:
Americas, Africa and even the Orient, though the
Asians were making their own glass beads for
centuries. These trading beads were and still areAsk a Question About this Article
manufactured primarily in Italy (Venice/Murano,)>> Where are the voter pamplet drop off
Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Yugoslavia andboxes for SE Portland, OR
Holland. In those days the Europeans actually>> Where can I find a listing of all Dance
tailored their bead production in color and designBands that played at Golden Canopy Ballroom,
to the preferences of the native populations theyJantzen Beach, Portland, OR?
found. For example, green and yellow were special