I love Borneo beads..I wish I could be there.

Beads prized in Borneo for their rarity and "power."

Here's some in a former thread, demonstrating the similarity between those traded to Africa and those traded to Borneo:

http://beadcollector.net/cgi-bin/anyboard.cgi?fvp=/openforum/&cmd=iYz&aK=59332&iZz=59332&gV=0&kQz=&aO=1&iWz=0

And, or course, you can Google "lukut sekala" and find all sorts of information and misinformation...

although old, mine could be a later date copy made by the Venetians.

hopefully we will get clarification from the bead conference.

here is a quote from Beads from Borneo

The Lukut Sekala, the most prized bead - $4,000, if you can find anyone to sell you one. Its price rose 10,000% in the quarter century since Southwell bought it.

Its origin is unknown, but perhaps early Islamic or Viking. I have not seen a parallel in such collections, but the technology fits.

Furness (1902) reported that Chinese merchants sent a Lukuk Sekala to Europe to be imitated. The Kayans weren't fooled.

http://www.thebeadsite.com/bbhl-01.html

Here are some examples from my collection. These beads are Venetian. I don't see any beads on your strand that look like they were made as older beads that the Venetians later copied.

you are right.

but I haven't come across a ancient Lukut Sekala image anywhere.

even on the Beads of Borneo book, there is nothing much I could get out .

information is outdated on these, but its possible that the real thing was in fact the Venetian one, and the bead being ancient Viking or Islamic was a myth altogether.

but then again,these are not that rare in my opinion. I have many on my strands.. some are real tiny..

There is, believe it or not, a limit to how much traveling I can do. It is now time to get a lot of regular work done, so I can save up for Tucson next year......

Hopefully in 2017!