Antique Venetian African Trade "Medicine Man" Beads, group of 10 (0471)
On offer is a short strand of 8 Antique Venetian trade beads dating to the 1800s. Made in Venice, these beads were traded in Ethiopia. It is said that these beads were among those worn by the tribal medicinal healers during the healing ceremonies, and hence the name "Medicine Man" is used to refer to these and other beads thus utilized.
The beads are old and have changed many hands, having traveled three continents between the 19th and 21st centuries. There are many imperfections consistent with their age and history. The color is worn out on some beads, there are age-appropriate nicks and chips. Please examine the photos carefully to see the state of the beads.
Note that some beads are whiter than others. Those are cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner to remove the dirt and deposit of the century and show their original color. If you have a preference, please indicate it in a note in your order. You get a random strand otherwise.
Most of the beads are 10-11mm.
The listing is for ONE strand.
Weights and sizes are approximate.
IMPORTANT NOTE. In the world of beads, and especially ancient and antique beads, errors in identification are common. We do our best to research and classify our beads accurately, however, mistakes are certainly possible. If you are a bead expert and notice any errors in the description, we invite you to please contact us and let us know. We are always grateful for any new information. We also accept returns no questions asked. See our Return Policy for detail.
COLORS: Our photos are taken in different lighting in an attempt to show how beads look in different lighting conditions. We make every effort to show colors as accurately as possible. The white background photos are taken in daylight conditions. The black background photos are taken in the strong lab light and would be representative of what they would look like in the evening electric light. Some of the photos are backlit to emphasize their translucency. Note that monitor settings strongly affect the way the colors look. What you see on your monitor may differ from what you see with a naked eye depending on your monitor settings.
WE COMBINE SHIPPING and will refund any overage. Contact us when placing the order and we will work with you to ensure the best available shipping cost.
