Historical Bead Jewellery

As explorers came to North America, one of the items brought for gifts were glass beads. Using glass beads to win friendship was a custom the Europeans used to control the North American fur trade. Early explorers soon established a system of trading beads for fur pelts. The beads were widely sought after by Indigenous Peoples for their colours and ease of use. They are an interesting part of North American Indigenous history and culture. Most of the historical beads used in this jewellery are between 100 to 200 years old.