vendredi 26 octobre 2018

Paper Beads: A Precious Collector's Item

By Paul Bell


What was the world without money? Well, it was cool, it had a bartering system. Something shiny and precious for other more valuable things. Paper Beads were the currency, the way to get all sorts of items from others. They were very valuable and still are today. Though today they are not for bartering, many people just collect them. They are also not that many going around, which makes them very expensive.

Back in the day, these gorgeous beads were used as a form of currency. People would barter with them to get items like myrrh, spices, fur, clothing and palm oil. No one who had them could go hungry or be without goods. They weren t just used to barter around, oh no they traveled to other lands and shores to acquire goods with them. This system was developed around the 12th century and continued for a long time.

There were more rare pieces and then they were those you found everywhere. The more rare but special ones included the Millefiori and Chevron. The color was also a determining factor in how available or scarce the jewelry was. The colors blue and white were produced in multitudes, they were everywhere. However, the more scarce colors were yellows and green and that made them more expensive.

A lot of misfortunes took place from the 12th to the 15th century, that makes it hard to find them today. A lot of the African tribes that were separated and so some of them got lost along the way. The production levels decreased and that s why they are hard to find. They are not used to attain things anymore like back in the day. That is why you have to work harder to even get one.

There are those that look cobalt blue or dark bottle green, they are called twisting neck pieces. Unlike the rest, they were actually cut in Venice. The other ones were polished and cut in Bohemia. They are very pricey, you could find them for about $620 a piece. The most recent purchase was made at an auction. So if you do some homework and have a lot of cash to spend, you too can acquire jewelry of this caliber.

Something else that is equally gorgeous is the Russet-red ones, those ate from the 1800s and made in Murano. They were most prominent for bartering in North America and Asia. Things like oil, fuel, and artifacts were part of the exchanges. Today they may go by a different name White Heart. The prices range from $40 to $500, it is affected by the age, heritage and the colors you come by.

You need to do your research when it comes to these pieces. Know what the price range could be for the one you are looking for. In fact, when you do go to auctions or similar places, you shouldn t hesitate to buy them. Thing is others will scoop them up if you don t act fast. There isn t a good chance of you finding the same one again, the color and size may change.

Many people go around the world collecting these, they have incredible collections that are not for sale. If you are looking to join that club you need to know your stuff. This is so that you don t lose out on great opportunities of finding them.




About the Author: