CHESAPEAKE BAY TRADE BEADS EARLY 17th CENTURY

Pilgrim era, early 17th century. Identical examples, along with other variants have been found at Eastern Woodland Indian sites and are preserved at the Calvert Maritime Museum, dedicated to Chesapeake Bay history. Indians had long made beads of natural materials but had never seen glass or ceramic beads. It is said that Powhatan (died 1618) "was half mad to be the owner of such strange jewels." This is consistent with if not explains the story that "Manhattan was traded for $24.00 worth of beads." These beads are similar to ironstone pottery with a coarse core sheathed in a vitreous skin. Large, they vary from about 7-12 mm (1/4"-1/2") diameter. They were formed as a coil and cut on an angle producing the individual beads. A few with surface imperfections as made. Price per 20 beads of assorted size and condition.