Offered in this lot is a collection of four strands of Gooseberry trade beads. The first strand is of larger beads. There are nineteen beads on this strand, measuring 3/8" X 3/8". Most of these beads are white/clear, with a few having a very slight lavender tint. The second strand has smaller beads, measuring 1/4" X 1/4". This strand has one hundred beads that have a definite lavender color. The third strand has small beads, measuring 3/16" X3/16". There are one hundred seventy four beads in this strand. These beads are white/clear, but seem to have a tan shade due to the raffia they are strung on. The last strand of beads is made of beads that measure 1/4" X 1/4" and are white/clear. These beads are strung on raffia that has broken and been re-knotted; the raffia gives the beads a tan tint. There are one hundred and two beads on this strand. Gooseberry beads are named after the stripes on them that resemble an actual Gooseberry. They are made using clear glass that is striped with white glass, then pulled into cane and cut. So, the white stripes are actually in the glass, not painted on the surface. Gooseberry beads date back as far as the 1600's.