Our catalogue > Rare Beads of the World
Beads have been traded across borders for thousands of years. Venetian beads for example are some of the most traded beads in history, and were prized from Borneo, to the Himalayas, to Africa.
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Superb, Rare Strand of 32 Ancient, Varied, East Javanese ‘Jatim’ Glass Beads
East Java, Indonesia 600-800AD
length: 52cm, diameter of the largest bead: 2.4cm, weight: 273g
Provenance
private collection, Canada; acquired in the US in the early 1980s
Rare, Fine German Striped Alley or Marble Bead Necklace
Lauscha, Central Germany, for the export market, including Africa circa 1870
overal length: 58.2cm, diameter of the largest bead: 3.4cm, weight: 346g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Unusual Naga Trade Glass Bead Multi-Strand Necklace
Naga People, North-Eastern India 1920s
circumference: 47cm, weight: 224g
Provenance
Hansjorg Mayer Collection, UK
Venetian Tabular Trade Beads for the African Market
Venice for the colonial African market 1880s
circumference: approximately 66cm, width of beads: approximately 1.8cm, thickness of beads: approximately: 0.7cm, weight: 136g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Two Strands of Venetian Trade Lampwork Beads for the African Market
Venice for the colonial West African market late 19th century
length of strand: 32.8 and 41.2cm, combined weight: 362g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Japanese Lacquer & Abalone Shell Mokume-Style Bead Necklace
Japan circa 1920
circumference: 40.4cm, diameter of the largest bead: 1.6cm, weight: 21g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Venetian Chevron Slice Trade Beads & Original Sample Card for the Società Veneziana Conterie
Murano, Venice, for the export market 1920s-1950s
diameter of the largest bead: 2.8cm, overall weight (including card): 62g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Massive, Rare Berber ‘Front & Back’ Amber Necklace
Berber or Amazigh People, Ait Yazza Village and related groups, Draa Valley Region, South-eastern Morocco early 20th century
circumference: approximately 140cm, weight: 931g
Provenance
private collection, Germany; collected in the 1980s
Sri Lankan Necklace of Gilded-Silver Beads
Sri Lanka 19th century
circumference: 49.6cm, weight: 49g
Provenance
European art market
Konyak Naga Trade Bead, Brass Bell & Shell Necklace
Konyak Naga People, North-West India & Western Burma early 20th century
Provenance
private collection, US
Naga Chank Shell Bead Necklace
Naga People, Eastern India/Western Burma 19th century
length: 60cm, weight: 216g
Provenance
private collection, London
Bontoc Clam Shell Bead & Glass Bead Necklace
Bontoc People, Northern Luzon, Philippines 19th-20th century
weight: 169g
Provenance
private collection, UK.
Yemeni Necklace of Large, Genuine, Antique Amber Beads & Silver Beads
San'a, Yemen late 19th-early 20th century
circumference: approximately 58cm, width (of amber beads): approximately 3cm, weight: 242g
Provenance
UK art market
Moroccan Berber Necklace of Large Antique Amber Beads
Berber People, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco. 18th-19th century
circumference: approximately 65cm, length of beads: between 2.5 and 6.2cm, overall weight: 622g
Provenance
private collection, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Fine Baule Cast Brass Necklace
Baule People, Ivory Coast early 20th century
circumference: approximately 81cm, weight: 184g
Provenance
private collection, US
Selection of Silver & Gilded Silver Trade Beads
India, Sri Lanka, Central Asia, Indonesia, Morocco 19th century
length of strand: 56.5cm, weight: 119g
Provenance
Private collection, UK
Ladakh Twelve-Strand Coral, Turquoise & Silver Bead Necklace (Ultik)
Ladakh, Himalayan India 19th century
circumference: 57cm, length of central band: 6.2cm, weight: 314g
Provenance
UK art market
Unusually Large, Naga Trade Bead & Bone Belt or Girdle
Konyak Naga People, North-West India & Western Burma early 20th century and possibly earlier
length: 82cm, width: 13.5cm
Provenance
private collection, US
Tibetan Hair Bead with Turquoise and Coral
Central Tibet 18th-19th century
length: 9cm, width: 5.5cm, depth: 1.6cm, weight: 71g
Provenance
private collection, Netherlands
Large, Tibetan Silver & Turquoise Hair Bead Pendant (with Display Stand)
Central Tibet 18th-19th century
length: 13.5cm, width: 6.8cm, thickness: 2.9cm, weight: 133g
Provenance
private collection, London, UK
Rare Naga Necklace with Turquoise-coloured Trade Beads
Naga People, Burma/India early 20th century
circumference: approximately 83cm, weight: 328g
Provenance
private collection, US
Naga Bead & Bone Belt or Girdle
Naga People, India/Burma 19th century
length (approx): 67cm, width: 15.5cm, weight: 517g
Provenance
private collection, London.
Yemen Silver & Natural Coral Bead Hirz Necklace
Yemen, possibly Haraz early 20th century
circumference: 79cm, length of main pendant: 13.9cm, weight: 473g
Provenance
UK art market
Yemen Silver Necklace
Jewish community, Hadramaut region, Yemen early 20th century
circumference: approximately 72cm, length of central pendant bead: 6.4cm, weight: 279g
Provenance
private collection, UK
Naga Necklace with Dark-Blue Trade Beads
Naga People, Western Burma & North-eastern India early 20th century
circumference: approximately 66cm, weight: 287g
Provenance
private collection, US
Necklace of Manabi Terracotta Spindle Whorls
Pre-Colombian Manabi Culture, Ecuador 500BC-500AD
length: 68cm, weight: 104g
Provenance
Acquired in the UK, from the estate collection of Dr George Yuille Caldwell (1924-2016). Dr Caldwell, an English-born physician moved to Singapore in the 1950s, from where he built up a superb collection of ethnographica.