We have some old cool Beads, how deep is Your love (pocket)?....:-)
http://www.pbase.com/thengan/image/82236213We have some old cool Beads, how deep is Your love (pocket)?....:-)
http://www.pbase.com/thengan/image/82236213Hello there - welcome to New York! I live in the area and occasionally look around New York City as well, but mostly during specific festivals.
The one retail location I can wholeheartedly recommend is Beads of Paradise in downtown Manhattan. They have a wonderfully eclectic selection of things to look at. A fair number of African trade beads, and lots more besides. But just one of the world's great bead stores. Also - check out the Ruben Museum right down the street -- a must visit for any fan of Himalayan art! The Met, of course, also has a few nice little trinkets.
Otherwise, there are many antique galleries in New York, but none that I'm aware of any that specialize in beads. Interested to hear whether others have had better experiences!
Cheers,
Abe @ Beadstore.com
I second the recommendation for Beads of Paradise - it's the only dedicated bead stone I've found in the city with a good selection of antique beads.
But also stop by the 25th St Flea Market on Saturday or Sunday. There are usually several sellers with interesting selections of antique or even ancient beads from all over the world. Get there before noon for the best selection.
https://www.nycgo.com/shopping/west-25th-street-flea-market
I can tell you one thing....Brick and mortar bead stores that carry a good selection of antique and ancient beads will drain your pockets.
To be honest....you need to get online and look for an honest dealer/s
and go from there. Usually....I've seen the price double or triple for the same beads you can find online. Of course, There are online sellers that charge way too much as well. And watch out for reproductions.
Make sure you get a gr8 deal....compare prices and decide what you are willing to pay. I use the Picard site as a base line for pricing. They are fair and pretty honest. Compare what you want with what they are asking for same type of bead.(mostly African trade beads)
The best beads are usually in privet hands not in stores.
Happy hunting...…
Odan….aka dannoh….dba....Capt. Lonfline
I'm always sad when people generalize that brick and mortar stores are not worth your time. The beading world would be a lesser place if we all shop exclusively on line searching for the lowest possible price. Shopping at a gorgeous bead store, where you can talk to real people, touch the beads, see lots of options -- that's a wonderful experience.
As an aside, I note that we often end up negotiating prices on our more expensive items. We don't haggle over a fifty-cent bead, but if you're looking an expensive trade bead strand - let's talk. And it we're short payroll on Monday, you'll get a nice deal on Sunday. We buy rare beads because we love them and want to share that love with our customers. Fundamentally, it's probably a bad business to carry this stuff.
Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk/rant :)
Abe @ Beadstore.com
Copyright 2024
All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users