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Interesting blog post on "Russian" trade beads in Alaska
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Posted by: beadiste Post Reply
03/25/2019, 09:35:51

From a University of Alaska Fairbanks exhibit at the Rasmuson Library

Commonly known as “Russian” trade beads. Beads were widely and used among the Alaska Native peoples.

“Beads were valued at so much according to color: Yellow 30 cents; Red 40 cents; Blue 50 cents. Chilkat.”

(Emmons 1991,56)

From the Amazon commentary on Emmon's book:
Lieutenant George Thornton Emmons, U.S.N., was station in Alaska during the 1880s and 1890s, a time when the Navy was largely responsible for law and stability in the Territory. His duties brought him into close contact with the Tlingit Indians, whose respect he won and from whom he gained an understanding of and respect for their culture. He became a friend of many Tlingit leaders, visited their homes, traveled in their canoes when on leave, purchased native artifacts, and recorded native traditions. In addition to an interest in native manufacturing and in the more spectacular aspects of native life - such as bear hunting, Chilkat blankets, feuds, and the potlatch - Emmons showed the ethnographer’s devotion to recording all aspects of the culture together with the Tlingit terms, and came to understand Tlingit beliefs and values better than did any of his nonnative contemporaries. He was widely recognized for his extensive collections of Tlingit artifacts and art, and for the detailed notes that accompanied them.

https://akethnogirl.wordpress.com/2018/08/24/guest-blog-indigenous-commerce-networks/

RussianTradeBeadsBatemanCollectionUAF.jpg (122.4 KB)  EmmonsTlingitIndians.jpg (53.3 KB)  


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Re: Interesting blog post on "Russian" trade beads in Alaska
Re: Interesting blog post on "Russian" trade beads in Alaska -- beadiste Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Divedog Post Reply
03/25/2019, 11:46:48

The strand of beads you posted looks like it has new Indian mosaic face beads on it. The image of the strand, looks like the images posted on ebay, by Thailand sellers, of Indian and Indonesian of reproduction beads that they claim are ancient/antique.



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Re: Re: Interesting blog post on "Russian" trade beads in Alaska
Re: Re: Interesting blog post on "Russian" trade beads in Alaska -- Divedog Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Divedog Post Reply
03/25/2019, 11:49:33

The seller on etsy says these face beads are from the 1980's

il_570xN.1804256586_e498.jpg (52.1 KB)  


Modified by Divedog at Mon, Mar 25, 2019, 11:50:20

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Not sure if you're referring to the two beads on the left of the strand, but
Re: Re: Re: Interesting blog post on "Russian" trade beads in Alaska -- Divedog Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: beadiste Post Reply
03/25/2019, 16:00:33

if so, when I expanded the photo, the white spots appear to be reflections off irregularities in the surfaces of the beads. I thought they might be fancy lamp beads, but I think it's just lamp reflections.

These beads tend to have manufacturing blebs and impressions, which show up as dark spots if the particular facet they're on is strongly reflecting the light. A real nuisance in daylight photos, because it makes the beads look far more rugged than they normally appear.

The marks could also be old-fashioned accession marks, which often featured a dab of white paint with inked numerals or letters.

I've emailed the woman who did the blog post, will see if she responds.



Modified by beadiste at Mon, Mar 25, 2019, 16:02:41

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A higher res photo indicates that these are white paint tags, beads date to 1958 donation
Re: Not sure if you're referring to the two beads on the left of the strand, but -- beadiste Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: beadiste Post Reply
03/25/2019, 19:20:05

An upside-down 78 75? "UM" on the other?

Remarks: Not accessioned til 1975. Donor's first name and other particulars are unknown. Note in Geist's handwriting: "Russian beads donated by Mrs. Bateman, July 2, 1958."

Here are links to the acquisition record, and the hi-res photo

http://arctos.database.museum/guid/UAM:EH:UA75-062-0002

https://web.corral.tacc.utexas.edu/arctos-s3/ykugo/2018-07-06/UA75_062_0002.jpg

RussianTradeBeadsBatemanCollectionUAFwhitepatcheshires.jpg (25.9 KB)  


Modified by beadiste at Tue, Mar 26, 2019, 11:10:24

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That's what they look like to me—from the first photo.
Re: A higher res photo indicates that these are white paint tags, beads date to 1958 donation -- beadiste Post Reply Edit Forum Where am I?
Posted by: Beadman Post Reply
03/27/2019, 03:21:09

Also -

The Indian faces beads shown are more likely to be from the 1990s and later. Though the late '80s is not impossible. The first Indian mosaic-glass beads I saw, in 1980 in New York City, and later that year in California, that had faces canes were very different. It was some years before beads that featured only face canes, in the conformations we see in this thread, became commonplace.

JDA.



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