Hello Mary,
Someone or something has steered you into a false idea.
These are wound and trailed glass beads. There is virtually no evidence that the Dutch produced these sorts of beads. Plus, the Dutch were not active beadmakers when these beads were produced in the 19th C.
There is a popular type of trade bead that has blue trailed-and-combed "squiggles" on a white base—that is routinely misidentified as being "Dutch," or "Dutch Delft." It is a mistaken identification, based solely on the fact that Delftware was also blue-on-white. And it is an error that ignores the fact that glass-beadmaking and ceramics-making are two very different industries.
Also, the patterns on the white Venetian beads is longitudinal—whereas the pattern on your bead encircles the equator.
These white-on-red combed beads are not uncommon among the trade beads found in México and parts of Latin America. They are most-likely Venetian, but could also be Central European.
One might as well drop "Dutch Delft" as a name for trade beads—because it is based on a mistaken idea. You might want to review my past messages here, that concern Dutch beads—and how common it has been to inaccurately ID beads as "Dutch" by many collectors, who were fed mistaken information.
JDA.
Hi JDA,
actually I wasn't steered into a false idea, I was just taking a wild guess based on what I saw listed on eBay and Etsy. I'm a complete neophyte to the bead world so I had nothing else to go on.
At any rate, I really do appreciate your insight and am happy for any identification. The necklace is from Saouth America, most likely Guatemala, so your telling me that these beads were common there makes complete sense, and the coins on the necklace have early to late 19c dates which is in keeping with your observation.
I suppose I could do a search of the site for the best book on beads recommendation, and/or I could simply ask, what do you recommend as the best book on the subject?
Thanks so much!
Mary
Hello Mary,
I would have to say you were steered in the wrong direction by a mistaken idea, promoted at eBay and Etsy—which happens constantly, 1000 times daily. Many people who offer beads for sale are likewise neophytes—who pass along a lot of mythology and garbled "information." The Forum is a much better resource—and the archive is searchable. I constantly refer back to it.
I currently moderate five Groups at Facebook. The two most-popular are Beadman - My Stuff, where I show and discuss beads and ornaments from my collections; and Beadman - Your Stuff, where I respond to questions members submit for identification and whatever information that can be provided. If you're on FB please consider joining.
There are two books that that cover all sorts of beads, from many regions of the world. These are The History of Beads (Lois Dubin, 1987 or 2008), and Collectible Beads (Robert Liu, 1995.). I was the primary consultant for both authors (and for both editions of THoB). A third book, Beads of the World, by Peter Francis Jr. (1999) is also useful, though much less inclusive, and with rather poor photos. Many other bead books were composed by people who have limited knowledge and perspective, and who have not studied beads very carefully. Those books are pretty worthless.
Regarding your necklace, after I responded to your post, discussing only the red beads, I actually looked at the structure of the necklace, and realized it was probably Méxican or Guatemalan. Also Guatemala is the northern-most part of Central America, bordering México. Your necklace is a very decent construction, and worthy of having.
Jamey
Hi Jamey!
Thanks so much for the response.
On my 'Delft' bead guess, it was based on only a cursory look at beads I saw available on eBay and Etsy, so I, in all honesty, didn't give it enough thought before posting my question.
It's obvious now, (or is it?), that Delft beads would be ceramic a la Delft tiles. I can imagine how annoying it can be for honest sellers, or anyone who takes bead history seriously, to see all the fakes and misattributions by unknowledgeable or unscrupulous sellers. I experienced this routinely when I was selling Native American jewelry on eBay. The junk I saw passed off as Native American jewelry, or plastic passed off as genuine turquoise, would make me cringe.
At any rate, thanks so much for the book suggestions, I'll try and pick up copies sometime soon.
I'm so glad you like the necklace, I exclusively, and obsessively, collect Guatemalan jewelry and also Mexican milagro necklaces and charms these days. I have a few very, very scarce Ecuadorian crosses as well.
I believe the necklace I posted pictures of was restrung incorrectly so I'll restring it in the proper manner using the appropriate string/cord. I need just a bit more research to decide what I'll use.
You can see how my interest in Guatemalan and Mexican milagro necklace constantly overlaps with the world of bead collecting.
Btw, if you are the seller Beanmanttt on eBay and Etsy, I have bought beads from you before and have loved everything I've gotten, mostly red heart trade beads, which were used in both Guatemalan and the Mexican necklaces I collect. It's better to use coral, but good, untreated coral is just so hard to find these days.
I'll post a pic of the milagro necklace that started my obsessive milagro search. I sold this necklace back in 2006 for 2k and have regretted it ever since. I've been trying to find another that I could afford or re-create one as close t0 it as possible using only antique milagros; they are scarcer than hen's teeth though so it's taken my FOR-EVER, but I'm getting close. I'm having trouble with the file sizes today so it's a small pic.
Unfortunately I don't have a FB account, I'd have to buy another cheap phone to create one as I am less than thrilled with their lack of privacy, etc. Perhaps I'll do it though, I'll mull it over.
Anyway, thanks again Jamey,
Mary
