Ethnic Design Necklace/Antique, Rare Venetian African Feather, Fancy Trade Beads - $375 - (Santa Fe, NM)

I am listing a one-of-a-kind ethnic design necklace that I created, strung with older, rare, antique Venetian trade beads. Hand made glass beads from Venice and other European countries were traded in Africa for hundreds of years (some sources say as early as the late 1400’s, others date it from the 1600’s, with the heyday of trading from the mid-1800’s to the early 1900’s.) Beads were used as money in exchange for goods, services, and unfortunately slaves. They began to come to the US during the 60’s and 70’s and became known as Hippie beads or Love beads. Interest died down for awhile, many unusual ones ended up in serious collections and museums, and African traders I know tell me it is harder and harder to find the really old ones any more, and they have continued to go up in price in the past few years. The feather beads came from my long time collection of them, and the beautiful “fancy” lampworked, wedding cake ones were bought from another beader’s older collection. The red faceted oval beads are also quite old, and bought by me many years ago. Size: Necklace 33" around; silver toggle clasp, which I accidentally mixed in with some other clasps but I think it is sterling silver and not plate; 41 beads total; 20 feather beads; 11 lamp worked/fancy beads. Please watch my site for other necklaces I will be listing, that I have designed with vintage, Pre-Columbian, gemstone, and trade beads, strung with ethnic and antique pendants, old fishing lures, those of my own design and castings, and other funky, fun and interesting things I find on my flea market adventures. Thanks for looking. _gsrx_vers_827 (GS 7.0.13 (827))

Posted in Santa Fe, NM, Jewelry
From ebay.com - 1 month ago