11/05/2018

Are You Interested In Collecting Paper Beads?

By Paul Bell


What was the world without money? Well, it was cool, it had a bartering system. Something shiny and precious for other more valuable things. Paper Beads were the currency, the way to get all sorts of items from others. They were very valuable and still are today. Though today they are not for bartering, many people just collect them. They are also not that many going around, which makes them very expensive.

Back in the day, these gorgeous beads were used as a form of currency. People would barter with them to get items like myrrh, spices, fur, clothing and palm oil. No one who had them could go hungry or be without goods. They weren t just used to barter around, oh no they traveled to other lands and shores to acquire goods with them. This system was developed around the 12th century and continued for a long time.

Like everything else, there were more intricate and rare ones and then there were those that were readily available. The more valuable rare pieces included the following: the Striped Chevron and the Millefiori beads. Color also determined how valuable they were for instance blues and whites were produced in many quantities. However yellows and greens not so much, which would make them more expensive.

Today the beautiful vintage jewelry is even harder to attain today. From the 12th to the 15th century some of these pieces got lost. Due to all the shipping and separating and moving of all the African tribes, there aren t as many lefts. The production also slowed down and money is now used to barter. So they were no longer required. When you do find one, it will be immensely overpriced, but it is kind of worth it.

There are those that look cobalt blue or dark bottle green, they are called twisting neck pieces. Unlike the rest, they were actually cut in Venice. The other ones were polished and cut in Bohemia. They are very pricey, you could find them for about $620 a piece. The most recent purchase was made at an auction. So if you do some homework and have a lot of cash to spend, you too can acquire jewelry of this caliber.

Another rare commodity is the Russet-red ones, made during the 1800s in Murano. They are as stunning as the name sounds, they were used to barter in Asia and North America. For fuel, oil, and artifacts everything that was required to make life better. These are called white hearts today and you should expect to cough up anything between $40 to $500. This piece is truly something special, the cost will go up depending on its age, heritage, and colors.

You need to do your research when it comes to these pieces. Know what the price range could be for the one you are looking for. In fact, when you do go to auctions or similar places, you shouldn t hesitate to buy them. Thing is others will scoop them up if you don t act fast. There isn t a good chance of you finding the same one again, the color and size may change.

Many people go around the world collecting these, they have incredible collections that are not for sale. If you are looking to join that club you need to know your stuff. This is so that you don t lose out on great opportunities of finding them.




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