| Original Message: Re: China - History |
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Dear Springee, Thanks. Your summary of Chinese history is not confusing to me. Unfortunately, my experience makes it very easy for me to be skeptical of stories I am told, or that I read, that do not make much sense in relation to the beads I know about. Not that I know all about Chinese (or East Asian) beads—because I don't. But over the years, since trade with China opened up, I have had a pretty decent exposure to that corpus of ornaments (supplemented by considerable reading, and a friendship with one of the most vigorous Chinese collectors—Dr. Robert Liu). When I see a "Chinese bead" that looks to me like an Indian bead, I am inclined to suspect that it is actually from India. And further, these days, I am inclined to suspect it may have only recently arrived in China, and may not have any real relation to historical Chinese culture. Some years ago, a client of mine showed me a long strand of gray banded agate beads, of a type that is considered typical of Ladakh, but that were said to have come from China. My gut told me these beads had just crossed a few borders recently, and were being misrepresented, and sold at what was twice their usual value. I told the client to disregard the story as probably untrue, and to realize that these same beads could be had from Ladakh for about half that price. The doubling of the price is the cost of the story.... Then, a few years ago, a group of people went on a tour to Thailand, and returned with a variety of beads they had acquired at a local market. Most of these beads were from Afghanistan—and at that time Afghan sellers had begun to dominate the markets of Bangkok (and are only now beginning to wane, some five years later). But those folks only knew they were buying "beads from Thailand" that they brought back to the U.S. But this is what the marketplace is like, especially lately. Be well. Jamey All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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