Overview / /
The collection of beads shown in this volume fall under three categories:
- Ancient
- Early 20th Century
- Ethnographic
The European beads in this volume are produced for either the European or the African trade. Most of these glass beads were found in Africa although the original production have been in Venice, Bohemia, Germany or The Netherlands.
Some of these beads were found stored in warehouses, still packed and labelled, ready for transport without even having the chance to reach their destination.
The African beads shown in this volume were found in Mali and the surrounding countries. Please note that the ancient stone and glass beads could possibly have been produced in India, as similar beads have been found throughout Central Asia. There are many ways of collecting and displaying beads. The real purpose of beads, of course, has always been personal adornment.
The objective of showcasing them is to give them a second life. All of the beads shown are wearable, and although there is a real beauty in individual beads, the true visual drama is never more prevalent than with a large bunch.
