Accession Number

1992.001.0003a

Creation Date

circa 1700

Description

Threaded strand of 190 royal blue 3.0-4.0 mm. beads. See also 1992.001.0003b (91 royal blue 3.0-4.0 mm. beads) and 1992.001.0003c (9 royal blue 3.0-4.0 mm. halves or fragments).
Beads were a staple trade good of Europeans in Africa as well as in the Americas. These beads would be traded for slaves in Africa where they were highly desirable symbols of wealth and prestige.