Hello friends,
To my surprise, I bought these two necklaces from US eBay spring 2010 especially they were in original condition. I hope I could get more this style trade beads in the future. Best wish to all folks here and may peace and love fulfill every corner in the world.
Happy New Year 2011
Wayne

Dear Wayne,

Your necklace is composed from beads valued by the Paiwan of Formosa (Taiwan), and is, then, probably a Paiwan necklace. Are the spacing beads white shell (perhaps tridacna)? These are not typical of Formosan constructions, but are seen among some Philippine beads. How was it (or they) represented to you?

Although the origin and time of these beads remains more-or-less unknown, their reputation suggests that they may have considerable age, Whether they can be regarded as "trade beads" may be a matter of opinion. I would not call them "trade beads."

Paiwan beads are discussed and shown in my article for the proceedings of the Borneo International Beads Conference, published this past October.

You are fortunate to have these specimens. Enjoy them.

Happy 2011. Jamey

Dear Jamey:
Happy New Year. Many pleasure seeing your reply this morning. About the spacing beads, it seems the choker痴 maker used mammal bone as ingredient material (Ox bone, or pig bone, I cannot tell the difference). For the more, although those bone-like spacing beads look smooth on this side I shown in the photo, their other aspect overspread corroding vestige, I did not see the same phenomenon on those shell beads. Wish you and other scholars can solve the secret about these beads early. Thank you again and have a nice New Year holiday,

Yours
Wayne

...the Paiwans can't claim authorship for any beads, except for that new ceramic stuff. Let's not create any more trans-provenance ambiguities like "Jenne" beads.

Meanwhile, once you shake out all the stuff that can be traced to industries elsewhere, we're left with specimens from one or more unknown industries. So, what progress has been made in this matter with all the enlightenment of modern bead science? Where were the "unknown" beads made? Are we to be satified with lists of "maybe here" or "maybe there"? Nothing has changed.

I performed beadwork activities often and eventually almost daily between 1967 and 1972. I continued to create beadwork for another five years--and still perform some beadwork projects occasionally, even now. Plus, I repair extant beadwork as part of my business. By 1972 I began to become interested in all sorts of beads--and I realized that I was never going to make a living if I limited myself to beadwork. So I expanded.

Please get educated about the definition of "beadwork"--and how beadwork is a particular subset of beads. I have promoted this division for most of my career, and other beadwork authorities have expressed similar opinions.

I have no objections to the designation "Paiwan beads," for beads that were historically admired and used by Paiwan people. If you do, fine for you. It is not the construction of artifacts from them that makes these beads "Paiwan."

JDA.

...that makes these beads "Paiwan."

Then tell us, what makes them "Paiwan"? If the beads aren't "Paiwan" and the "construction" doesn't make them "Paiwan", what makes them "Paiwan"?

Here's what y'all can do: String up anything as a necklace or anything else. Now this won't be "beadwork", but it will be what you are. Anyone wanna see my "hillbilly" beads? Of course, hillbillies didn't make the beads and the construction doesn't make them hillbilly beads either, but they're still hillbilly beads. Paradise for the eBay aficionado!

People with half-baked brains and ideas will probably never become fully-baked. But the idea that they decide to advise others when SOUND advice is available is hysterical.

Y'all.

JDA.

They didn't make the beads; they just strung 'em together. That's why they're really hillbilly beadwork...unless you're talking about ownership. But you don't look that far, do you?

according to modern bead science thought.

Shown is a Hillbilly construction. A Hillbilly strung these beads. They're not hillbilly beads. This isn't Hillbilly beadwork. But they ARE Hillbilly beads because a Hillbilly owns them...or at least that's what they say.

I'll show some Indian beads next.

First off, this is not beadwork. Who cares about the rest, and who cares what you think.

1. Where else are these beads found?
2. Any archeological finds?
3. Are the multi-colored ones different from the plain ones (other than color and decoration)?
4. Have you heard of the recent versions made by a Paiwan artist/craftsman? They call them something like glazed ceramic, which seems confusing and off base. You can get cheap necklaces of new ones...search for "Paiwan beads".

Dear Pudgy:
Since I am just an amateur but a professional researcher, I can only give you some conjecture about Paiwan bead.

First, frankly speaking, all of my Paiwan beads came from trade but inherit. Most of them came from a Paiwan chief family member. Of course, I paid a lot for them, and I also asked him stung them into traditional body decorates style.

Second, according to that chief family member statement, somebody had found these beads in abandon long-house site in the mountain area of southern Taiwan. But, he also reminded me that some real supernatural stories about digging those archeology site. We believed that if you get paiwan bead without permission (Sorry I cannot use the correct word in English), its pre-owner will come into your dream every night. And, it really happened. As the result, lots amount of Paiwan beads were preserved safely somewhere in Taiwan.

Third, I think I have found a special character indicating that all Paiwan beads (different to those Islamic trade beads and Venetian beads Paiwanese collected also) had been made in a limited small area. Not southern Taiwan but Borneo Island. I wish I can have more time find some strong evidence holding my opinion.

Fourth, Paiwan bead have been a name of tourist souvenirs recently, those shining fragile new-made beads only imitate old beads appearance. For example, reproduction cannot (or does not want) be made the same with the dark and red one on the top line of the choker I shown.

I hope I have answer all of you questions, best new year wish to you and your family.

Sincerely
Wayne

Thanks for your input. Are they also found in Borneo? As for your picture:

Venetian lampglass and Paiwan beads look a lot alike, but they're not the same. Aside from the yellow ones in your picture, your beads look a lot like Venetian production. I'll bet they are Venetian with a couple of exceptions...maybe.

Freedomgood's look more like powder glass. On another note, what do you bet the theoretical Borneoan bead makers used "tradewind" beads for raw material?

There must be many pics of this stuff in the galleries.

Dear Wayne,

Again, I recommend my paper from the BIBC this past October, in which I discuss the heirloom beads from Borneo, Formosa, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Palau. Based on educated guesses, I speculate upon possible origins, point out modern trade beads, and discuss bead types that are found in more than one region.

I think that if you had a better understanding of Borneo--its culture and technological situation/level--you would not think it were possible any glass beads were made there in old times. This is nearly impossible (!).

My paper, and other BIBC papers, tend to confirm that glass beads in Borneo were always rare and exotic--which they would not have been had they been manufactured there.

I demonstrate that certain beads are modern trade beads, beginning with chevron beds from as long ago as the 16th and 17th Cs., though some are more recent. I compare Venetian chevron beads to similar-looking beads that necessarily are from that time or later. And I show other prototypes and similar-looking versions, that demonstrate an Islamic Period origin for some beads, and copies from later. I propose that the most significant heirloom beads (in the Lukut group) are European beads, most likely made at Venice. ( I am currently considering a Japanese origin for some of these beads.)

In the early 1990s, glass-beadmaking was introduced in Taiwan by Dirk Ross. His goal was two-fold. He wanted local people to have a new livelihood, and for new beads to be available so that old beads would not be lost through sales abroad. He hoped that new versions of old beads would be made. (I saw these new beads at Bead Expo in 1994 or 1996.) The new beads do not really resemble old heirloom beads. They were more crude (simple and less well-made), and only featured two colors, such as red and white, or black and white. No one who is familiar with Formosan heirloom beads would mistake the new beads for old ones.

Regarding Formosan beads, I show specimens of powderglass beads. I have been the primary proponent that these beads are peculiar to Island SE Asia, for a number of years now.

I would suggest that in the ISEA region, beads derive from an broad expanse of time and a variety of industries. There is not a single origin for any particular corpus of beads. Their origins include The Middle East, China, Europe, and possibly Japan. Locally, glass beads are known to have been made in Java and the Malay Peninsula. Within the Philippines is not impossible, though I would sooner look toward mainland SE Asia (Thailand and Vietnam).

Jamey

I cannot wait to read it.

freedomgood@yahoo.com.tw

Some of my favorites from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Ivory, size 30 x 40 x 24 mm.
Supposedly crabs -- but I fail to see them there!

I too was very lucky to purchase some lots from the Lewis collection. Here are a few of my favorites: 7 layer black chevron, simulated chevron, xtra large 6 layer (52mm), pink pineapples, Venetian doll beads (pictured in Picards catalog), black core bodom and 5 brick core 7 layer chevrons. I also traded with a bead buddy for a incredible brick core 7 layer. I will try to put up some photos when I re-size them.
Happy beading for 2011!
May we all find some keepers!
-Matt

... to remind myself that I should only collect East Asian beads but it's a losing battle. I blame it all on BCN! Happy New Year to everyone.

22mm.

All the best,

Will

I guess it'd be an interesting practice to string them up when I have a number of them.
Picture not very clear though...

2010 i found some diffrent beads.

two more.

I love this pattern and I came across several this year so I had enough to put these 3 together.

I have just a pair for earrings, snagged at a flea market. Always pawing through the little stuff pays off!

mine came from Scotland. A castle! imagine that, too cool

you have an amazing abundance of beads. i can't compete, but i surely do enjoy looking

It took some hard work and some digging, but they were actually free: the beads I personally dug up from the dump site from the Bapterosses factory in Briare, France.
One of the coolest things I have done in a long time!
I hope to be going back this spring.

Mine was not a bead, but a bead adventure. My highlite for 2010 was finally after many many years of knowing Thomas Mercer, finally meeting him face to face at the Eastern Primative Rendezvous in Ohio. It was a privledge, an honor & a pleasure...thanks Thomas.

I dream of meeting face to face the KIFFA KING, the super nice and very talented Mr. Mercer!

Yup! I have already had the pleasure of meeting Thomas Mercer twice! Great guy!!Fabulous collection of Venetian trade beads! Its the famous Kiffa king that i have not yet had the pleasure of meeting face to face!

I arranged to purchase this green recycled seven layer bead from Picard in December 2010! Pretty psyched, I think it is beautiful.

I am super happy for you Jake! I can't wait to hold it and take a closer look.
-Matt