For your consideration in this lot is a rare multi-strand braided trade bead necklace from the 1800’s. The necklace is made of small seed size cylinder beads in opaque light blue, dark blue, yellow, white, orange, and red beads. The beads average 1/8" each. There are twelve strands of small beads that come down from five large blue beads on each side. The small bead strands start separate, then join, then separate again. The necklace is tightly strung on cotton thread. At the top knot are four tabs with two blue and two red round beads on each. The total length of the necklace is 27 1/2", not including the four 1" tabs at the knot. This necklace is in very good condition for its age.