BUYING BEADS TRADED TO NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLES:

There were thousands upon thousands of beads traded to our North American Indian peoples. Nobody really knows when the first beads came, but it is suggested that beads such as green hearts, white wound beads, and so called Russian blue beads appeared on the eastern shores sometime during 1600's. It is certain that beads were in Alaska in 1741. And there is adequate proof that beads were traded along the Columbia River and the Northwest coast of Northern California, Oregon, and Washington during the 1700's. It is no longer a mystery as to exactly when the beads showed up in the west. There are well documented accounts of Russian and English trade ships on the Northwest coast, beginning in the early 1700's offering Chinese trade beads. And, there is every possibility that beads were traded in Western America by the first Spanish explorers who were in California long before the first white fur trappers and explorers.

When searching for beads traded in America to our Native American Indian peoples, do not be shy about asking the seller for a copy of his/her written warranty. Do not be shy about asking for authentication documentation. Before one buys the so called Native American bead, one must keep in mind that different beads were traded in different areas of North America. And sometimes the same bead was traded in many areas. Knowing which and where will help to authenticate the bead(s). There are reputable trade bead research books and pamphlets that can help you to be sure you are buying a bead that wasn't made yesterday. There are reputable authors and other bead authorities in our Universities and Museums that one can turn to for guidance.

THIRD PARTY REFERENCES:

When making the offer one way that the seller can show a Statement of Provenance is to name third party reference. It makes no difference if the third party reference is living or deceased as long as you have a name that can be followed up on. One cannot use "Bill told me that." Who's Bill? What did Bill tell the seller that the seller is now sharing with you? If the seller won't allow you to communicate with his third party reference (if available) or if you can't find the third party reference on the internet, take your money and run. Any seller can offer you a third party reference, but many will not allow you to communicate with said reference simply because the reference does not exist.  

ASK QUESTIONS:

Never take what you read at face value when it's your money being spent. Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions, and do not depend on feedbacks alone. Sometimes a seller will become defensive when asked questions. Reason being, the seller can't produce said reference or authentication is questionable. As a buyer it is your right and your responsibility to ask questions.

RED FLAGS:

Look at the pictures carefully, make sure the beads you are looking at were actually used by Native Americans in the area described by the seller. Some sellers of so called Native American trade bead strands sell misrepresented items. For one major example, bead strands are soaked in crank case oil to make new beads appear like old beads. Some beads that will catch the eye of new eBay potential buyers are face beads, fancy beads, and some chevrons. The face beads are typically new beads from India soaked in crank case oil, as are fancy powder glass beads from Africa and China All of these crank case oil soaked beads are used to entice the new eBay potential buyer. Auctions are very responsible for auctioning off bead strands of the type described above. In addition, many fine legitimate beads are also soaked in crank case oil by some auction sellers and / or consignors to make already old beads appear old. This is done in stupidity. Some sellers have good beads, but no knowledge of the bead. Therefore they doctor up the bead strands by adding a few new face beads, powder glass beads, and cheap fancy beads. soak them in crank case oil and offer them for sale as North American beads traded to our Native American peoples. Buyers too need to be held accountable.  It is the responsibility of all buyers of any bead to know what the red flags are. It is the buyers responsibility to know the beads one is collecting. If the buyer is an impulse buyer instead of a knowledgable buyer, then that buyer will be a part of his / her own problem when buying mis-represented beads.  

Here is a tip for ridding your nice beads of grease and oil. One or two efferent tablets in a large glass of water. Let sit overnight, and you will be amazed when you see your beads in the morning.

BEADS TRADED IN NORTH AMERICAN REFERENCE BOOKS, MANUALS, AND PAMPHLETS, AS FOLLOWS:

Pamphlets and books with color plates showing one the beads that were traded throughout North America. These pamphlets and books can be made availble to you by contacting me at my email address.

Arizona Highways, July 1971, IND  33940, Glass Indian Beads

The Alaska Journal, Sumer 1972, Vol. 2, NO 3, Approximately fifty color plates of beads traded in Alaska,

EARY CONTACT, Glass Trade Beads In Alaska by Polly G. Miller. Some color plates, but mostly a history of beads traded in Alaska. Excellent learning experience.

Indian Artifact Magazine, Vol. 26 - 1, Jan/Feb/Mar, 2007. Two dozen color plates and history of beads traded throughout North America. Very will written article.

BEADS, Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, 1990 Vol. 2. Offers wonderful color plates and history of Chinese beads traded in the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Northwest coastal areas. Contray to some acedemic bead experts, seed beads were not the only beads found at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River.

The Chinese Bead by Gerald Fenstermaker and Alice T. Williams.

North American Jewelry and Adornment by Lois Sherr Dubin.

Indian Trade Relics by Lar Hothem

Native American Collectibles, by John A Shumann

The research material is out there. All you have to do is read it and study it, and you will become the expert. Most certainly you will be better educated on trade beads used in North America than most sellers of beads that are not as described.