Antique Venetian African Trade "Medicine Man" Beads, group of 8 (0458)
On offer is a short strand of 8 Antique Venetian trade "Medicine Man" beads dating to the 1800s. Made in Venice, these beads were traded in Ethiopia. It is said that these beads were worn by the tribal medicinal healers during the healing ceremonies, and hence the name "Medicine Man".
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.
Most of the beads 10-11mm, although a couple of beads are about 9x10mm. The hole size is about 1.5mm. See the photos with the US penny for scale. Representative samples of strands are shown in the photos. You will get a random strand that will be very much similar.
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 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.
