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Large Whites: ID help?
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Posted by: CoinCoin Post Reply
10/04/2018, 10:27:04

From a collection that includes both European (via Africa) and Asian beads; African stringing. I haven't seen these from the Africa trade, so wonder are they Venice? Any other info welcome, such as where in Africa typically traded to, whether they have a local or collector "name," etc.

ClayBigWhites_copy.jpg (134.0 KB)  


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Faux chevrons, originally
Re: Large Whites: ID help? -- CoinCoin Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Rosanna Post Reply
10/04/2018, 11:49:44

You can see traces of surface decoration - these were faux chevrons, painted to look like the real thing.
I think these were discussed on BCN in the past - try searching for faux chevron.

On eBay - under faux chevrons - you can see a number of examples of this bead - they are listed as late 1800s - early 1900s, origin Europe. Probably others know more about the exact country of origin. I think they are ceramic beads.



Modified by Rosanna at Thu, Oct 04, 2018, 14:22:31

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Re: Large White Beads
Re: Large Whites: ID help? -- CoinCoin Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Beadman Post Reply
10/04/2018, 15:08:17

These beads are probably porcelain, or at least a white ceramic. I would have to guess they are Central European rather than Venetian. (I could not exclude France as a possible maker—or any European nation that produced ceramic wares.) As Rosanna mentions, it is possible to see some traces of the now-eroded painted decorations that made them resemble chevron beads. (See the screenshot below, posted by Thomas Stricker, where five specimens are shown.)

In the early days of The Bead Journal (beginning in 1974), Robert Liu occasionally composed articles about porcelain trade beads—many of which were copies of other beads, including native-made beads. Copies of mollusk shell artifacts were typical objects.

But few authors (that I am aware of) have continued to observe and discuss these beads. One exception is the report on the Bapterosses industry at Briare, composed by the Picards. See the screenshot below, where white porcelain imitations are mentioned—and follow the link to read this article. But whether Bapterosses made the beads in-question here remains unresolved.

JDA.

bcn_ts_imitation_chevron_bds_08.jpg (63.7 KB)  picard_bap_passage_95.jpg (91.9 KB)  

Related link: http://beadcollector.net/picards/
Modified by Beadman at Sat, Oct 06, 2018, 15:53:15

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Thanks Rosanna & Jamey!
Re: Large Whites: ID help? -- CoinCoin Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: CoinCoin Post Reply
10/04/2018, 20:01:51

The feel of these is definitely porcelain-like. Why would bead fakers choose this material over glass? Is it easier to produce porcelain beads? I'm guessing they are easier to color convincingly as a layered bead, and the quick loss of color when in use would not concern a faker.



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