Hi Nancy,

This is a big can of worms....

In the early 80s when I first became involved, most trade beads didn't have names. The round black ones with white dots were simply referred to as "eye" beads. I didn't get on the internet until 1999, and it was funny to discover that these beads had turned into "skunks"! They look nothing like skunks! But the internet sure does perpetuate all sorts of misinformation...

Keeping in mind that bead names are totally unofficial, subjective and for the primary convenience of marketing, I don't know about the usefulness of such a catalog. For example, the design referred to by some folks as "peace" as in the peace sign, looks more like the Mercedes Benz symbol than a peace sign, so I would rather call them Mercedes Millefiori. Or, how about "tri-color murrine"? But why do we have to name them at all? And my opinion is just as valid as anyone else's.

Another example of the problematic aspects of names is how so many sellers refer to any and every white heart bead as a "Hudson's Bay" white heart. This "name" is often used by sellers who want to imply that the white heart bead they are trying to sell was North American traded, and marketed by the Hudson's Bay Company. NA traded beads sell for multiples more money than their identical African traded counterparts. When in truth, the overwhelming majority of white hearts were made in Venice for the African trade, and were never bought or sold by the Hudson's Bay Company. So we see why "Hudson's Bay" is a popular descriptive to tack on to the name "white heart".

Your points are well taken, Joyce, and I have tremendous respect for your opinion. I also learned something from you: I've always been baffled by the attraction to "Indian" beads, Navajo beads, Hudson's Bay beads, etc., knowing they were made in Europe anyway. The only beads the American indians made themselves were wampum.

The the human soul has an innate need to name, organize, and catalog information. What's the first thing you do with a pet: give it a name. A stray animal: give it a name. Naming is the hallmark of science; which is an "organized body of knowledge". To name is to be human.

The problem with "tri-color murrine" is that there are hundreds of them, I still don't know what bead you are talking about. A catalog would help dispell the misinformation we all find so irritating. It will help us look up beads in an index, it would help cross-reference them. It is a documentation of what's out there, and a commentary on how it came to be.

Anyway, it's an interesting discussion. I didn't know I had touched a nerve. Sorry. :)

Nancy,
As was already said, most "common" bead names were created to sell beads, they give either an easy to identify visual or a romantic notion.
Most people with a basic knowledge of bead collecting could identify a "Zen" bead from a line-up and most have heard of "Lewis and Clark" beads. I agree with Joyce about the Mercedes star being more applicable... as a "peace" sign has 4 arms and the Mercedes only 3 like the bead depicted, but since these names are bogus anyway, I opt for the YUGO bead, because mine look more like a Y. Zen beads are "antichrist" beads beacause they have 666 in their design.....I will be sittin' an spittin' around a campfire soon thinkin' of new ones.
The best place to find names for this "catalog" would be in the descriptions used on eBay, look under "Trade beads" and check out the "useful" nomenclatures......it's a riot!
Good luck and keep smiling, Thomas

Thanks KS

Hi Nancy,

The "fried egg" design or pattern is made via trailing. It consists of superimposed spots, like a stratified eye pattern—and is NOT a millefiori pattern.

The vast numers of millefiori patterns do not have names, except general ones. When I did my classification system (1982), I could not even get people to agree that a simple distinction between "star patterns" and "flower patterns" was easily interpretable (though I continue to maintain that it is, and I continue to do so). So, what that means is there is very likely to be a LOT of individual opinions about canes, their interpretation, and what they should be named. It's like the difference (in plants and animals) between a scientific name and a popular name.

A plant has only one scientific name (though this can be changed through making a case for priority or speciousness), though it may have dozens of popular names. Once a scientific name has been changed, it can take the populace years to catch up. Sometimes they never do. (My favorite example: the plant called Aloe vera was renamed in the late 1960s. Yet over 30 years later people still call it that name, which they also mispronounce as "alo-veruh," when it is actually "a-LOH-eh-VEH-rah".)

The so-called "peace cane" is one I call a trifoil. In fact, it doesn't look like a peace sign at all. It is made from three color sections (like a pie chart) that are typically brick-red, blue, and green (or yellow). It's a stupid (that is, ignorant) name, in my opinion.

Luann, let's be careful here! You begin by asking for a list of millefiori cane pattern names; but you end with a call for "bead names." These are two entirely different things. Let's be clear about what we want (you CAN want both after all), and what we are suggesting--but not confuse one for the other.

Cheers, Jamey

Nancy--I'm sorry for calling you Luann. I didn't hear about the gaff untill it was too late to edit the error..., and clearly I still had Luann on my mind from the previous reply related to amber.

Jamey

Thanks Jamey,

I realized later in the day that Fried Eggs weren't millifiores. Also, I am really only interested in names for millifiories. I will try to be more careful and specific in the future.

Thanks for the careful description of the Peace pattern, now I get it. Guess I was asleep during the sixties.

It wouldn't bother me if a single millifiore pattern were listed under several names, it could be helpful, actually. This often happens with plants because the common name changes with the geographical region and most people do not use the Latin names.

The fact that the marketeers were the ones who invented names for millifiore patterns is fascinating, and let's not besmirch a perfectly respectable occupation! Marketeers are in touch with what is wanted, because what is wanted is what sells. Their instincts about the populace are insightful and useful and if they are good at it, they laugh all the way to the bank.

OK, finally, somewhere in this thread, someone suggested I check out eBay, trade beads, popular keywords. Thanks.

And I continue to hope that others will post images and common names of millifiore patterns. Thanks. Nancy :)

They already documented 2,915 different millefiori beads in 1991, easily referenceable by number. Anyone interested in millefiori should have this book - Picard volume 6 - "Millefiori Beads From the West African Trade".

The problem with these names is one of confusion. This is used as a tool by unscrupulous dealers to take unfair advantage of "newer" bead collectors. Some find it a joke while others loose hard earned money on bogus names and stories. I will be the first to admit that I use these names to find certain beads on ebay. I am also the first to point out that what I find is nothing short of criminal!!! The beads with fancy names and stories are misrepresented more than anything! Just do a search for a dZi bead, you will find that possibly as much as 99% of the eBay offered dZi beads are phoney!!! So what good is the name?
I did an eBay search this AM for Lewis and Clark, again I was dismayed!
Venetian Style, Lewis and Clark style etc. very confusing, when you consider the photos don't tell the complete story anyway, as the wiser collectors usually point out: it can be hard to properly ID a bead from a photo alone. So what we as consumers are left with is having to use our judgement when buying these beads. The biggest crooks use sales terms like "guaranteed" or "authentic" or money back etc.....and if anyone thinks they have a recourse, they are mistaken, email me if you want in depth eBay horror stories regarding fraudulent bead sales. Nancy, I mix humour in with my posts, don't mistake it as irritation, your questions are all valid, Lord knows we have all asked similar or the same in past posts. I would like to point out that there are dealers that would use your questions against you in an effort to make some quick sales, just be careful and keep asking the questions. Maybe we can help!
Thomas

This is an example of what I'm talking about! eaby # 8946042705
Seller says: RARE 7 LAYER LARGE VINTAGE CHEVRON TRADE BEAD,
the photos are the sellers, and I am only posting these for educational purposes.
I say: is it? (7 layers)
do you count 7 layers?
seller also says: CHEVRON AFRICAN TRADE BEAD RARE BLACK & BLUE LARGE
I say: is it?
does it look Venetian (meaning it could have been used in Africa) or is it from India (meaning it probably never came close to Africa)?
check out this seller other auctions, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. I think this seller is just ignorant of what he has. Problem is the next person believes the story and looses!

Do check out the "Rare Venetian King Trade Beads" on their list. I have never seen splotchy blob "King" beads before, but I haven't seen everything.

The bead is indeed Indian, I own one just like it to prove it! Its not seven layers, and, it is as rare as the ten dollars it costs to buy it!!!!!! So, one should do their homework before they buy on ebay!

follow the link............... I love the search function of this forum!

The title line in eBay auctions used to have only 45 characters. This is one reason why such names hang on. I remember a discussion between Kirk and myself on the old nbs that was entertaining to say the least. Around the so-called "Pink Pineapple" trade bead. If not for the handy nic-name which all fans recognize, we would be stuck with "Wound Opaque Pink Oblate Trail Decorated Fancy Bead With Dots Inside of Trailed Diamond Shapes" which is even more difficult to assimilate...and would never fit onto a title line...so please realize I retain my sense of humor!

I really don't have a problem with basic "market names" for beads when they are used with honest intent to describe. The problem is when these "campfire names" are used on beads they were not originally intended for, or for the cheap imitations of them, just to deceive and/or inflate value. Sorry if we sound a bit irritable; the subject has been discussed extensively over the last 5 years and a total of 4 separate forums. However, I understand the fact that it is a new subject for many, and appreciate the interest. The campfires are still a smolderin'...

Look for any of the beads that interest you on the Bead-database.org, where a range of images information and descriptions of beads are being assembled.

Stefany

Hi Nancy and All,

Stefany already suggested Database.org for reference. We try to avoid using so-called "campfire names" such as "Fried Egg" pattern, "Peacock" and "Peace" millefiori etc. but we are aware that some people do. I have therefore included them in the (hidden) search keywords so that anyone searching for above terms will be able to find the beads/patterns they are referring to.

Cheers,
Evelyn