How to purchase the best beadwork available

The subject of Native American beadwork lends this informational guide to the buyer:

Good beadwork (called reproduction work by collectors)  will reflect a look to the past with regard to colors of beads, style of beading, and the authentic hides used:

a.  always look for colors of beads that were used during the early beadwork samples by Native American Indians.

b.  good colors will be: white, cobalt blue, reds, black (in small amounts), various shades of blue, French blue, sky blue, greasy yellow, corn yellow, various shades of green, a green that is true green, Crow pink or Cheyenne pink, cranberry, orange (mostly used in Apache beadwork).

c. colors to avoid, when buying beadwork reproductions,;  purple beads, turquoise, blue-green shades, sparkle beads, glitter beads.  Most of the older beads were opaque or transparent beads.  (MODERN beaders use all colors and sizes of cut beads and lined beads that are beautiful.).

d. the hides used were usually brain tanned hide.  This means that the brain of the deer or buffalo, etc, was actually removed and used in the tanning process.  This rendered the hide a very soft white.  Smoking the hide is what turns it a golden brown or tan color.

e. good beadwork reproductions will be fairly clean too.  Sometimes you see beadwork reproductions that are very filthy,  Native Americans kept their beadwork will cared for and clean whenever possible, with the exception of moccasins which are used for walking on dirt.  Example:  a pipe stem that has some beadwork on it will NOT be caked in grime.  Ceremonial Pipes are sacred and kept clean, not even allowed to touch the ground!

f. Whenever you see beadwork that is made on commercially tanned hide, you are looking at modern beadwork.  Good reproductions will be made with proper thread (cotton blend), brain tanned hide, appropriate colored beads, usually size 11 seed beads or size 10, and in rare cases size 12 or 13.  Never, buy beadwork that is adorned with plastic pony beads. Glass beads are authentic.

g.  Below is a photo of a beaded knife sheath and moccasins made by Osalita and these are a fine example of old styles of beadwork.  Osalita sells on Ebay in the fall, winter, and spring.  I have her permission to use these photos of her beadwork.