Offered in this lot is a collection of fancy trade beads. Trade beads were otherwise decorative glass beads used as a token money to exchange for goods and services. Trade beads were used to purchase resources by early traders and made to ease the passage of explorers and traders. There are one hundred and twenty five beads total in the first set of beads; there are four loose black Chinese beads and the rest are on a necklace. These beads are a shiny deep black and measure an average of 3/16" X 3/16". Next are nine black beads with white stripes, measuring 1/2" X 3/8". The next three beads are round black with yellow and red trailing. These beads are 3/8" round. The color black represents immortality, knowledge, stability, and power in the Chinese culture. The next bead is a large multi-faceted clear purple bead. This bead measures 3/4" X 1/2". The next four beads are India Carnelian faceted long beads. Three of these beads measure 1 1/2" long and one is 1 1/4" long; they are all 3/8" wide. These beads have eight sides and show a layered variation of color that is wonderful. The next beads are four yellow Chinese Melon beads. Melon beads are glass paste beads of various hues, the most common being shades of blue, green, and yellow. Quite common in Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet, they originate from further north in China, from the Tang dynasty onwards. These beads measure 3/4" X 1/2". The next bead is a very striking bead. The bead measures 1" X 3/4”. The bead has a white core, a layer of black with metallic flecks, and a layer of murrine or red glass with a very thin gold outer layer; each Murrine spot is finished with a tiny black bead/dot. The red of this bead is like the red glass you see made with gold, and the metallic flakes and outer layer of murrine suggests gold also. The next bead is 3/4" X 5/8". This bead is unique and has a cream colored glass core. Two sides of the bead have brown trailing that looks like a marble stone and a cream center. On either side, on the "Marbled" part of the bead, are tiny cream beads/dots. These two beads are in excellent condition. The last item in this lot is a “Modern” 1930, multi-faceted clear glass, graduated bead necklace. There are seventy four beads ranging in size from 1/4" X 1/4" to 1/2" X 1/2". These beads are strung on a fine wire with a "pearl" style clasp. The items in this lot are in excellent to good condition, with minor damage seen on a few of the ancient beads.