Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Paper Beads: A Precious Collector's Item

By Paul Bell


Ever wondered how the world operated without money? Wonder no more, Paper Beads were how people bought things from each other. People went all over the world giving the jewelry for other goods. However today, they are not for bartering, in fact, they are very scarce. Therefore you will find them at inflated prices. So if you really want them, prepare yourself.

The bartering with these iconic pieces was most popular in the 12th century. People used them to get all sorts of stuff, such as fur, myrrh, palm oil as well as clothing. If you had the pieces there was nothing you couldn t get. They didn t just use them for exchanging with those around them. They literally went about exploring what other land had to offer.

Color is a big deal when it comes to this kind of jewelry. It also determines how much you pay for a piece, especially back then. Millefiori and Chevron were very special back then. There are specific colors that were likely to cost more, because of how many were produced. For instance, blues and whites were more affordable, because they were many of them. Yellows and greens were more exclusive and expensive because they were less.

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.

Going for the purchase is not as easy as it sounds. The thing about these pieces is that you may see it today and tomorrow it might be gone. So you must know enough about what you are looking for and act quickly. Experts warn that you shouldn t procrastinate and linger around when you see one. You must act quickly and make a purchase. You might not find another one similar to that one, be it in color or size.

Other than the fact that they look gorgeous, others collect them as a reminder of what was. These are very sacred and should be kept for sentimental value as well. They are not easy to find and may cost a pretty penny, so once you have them you must hold on tight.




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