Trade Bead Necklace with Indian Head Nickel Pendant - Price Reduced 20%

This necklace was a mystery to me when I first picked it up. It is made of very small trade beads. In researching beads to try to figure out what exactly I was holding, a plausible scenario came to my mind. These are beads which were all used by the Hudson's Bay Co. of Canada in the late 1800's and into early 1900's. The Indian Head Nickel is a fitting token to go along with these re-strung antique trade beads.

The cobalt blue beads are a wound glass bead best described as a European Trad Bead (possibly Dutch). These were made circa mid- to late-1800's. The red beads are Whitehearts. These again are wound beads but comprised of two separated layers of glass. The silver beads are unidentified. Finished length of this necklace is approximately 25". The Indian Head Nickel adds about another 1-1/8" to the length of the closed necklace.

Condition: The beads are in excellent condition. There are some usage marks and a bit a of pitting, consistent with age. The silver is quite tarnished. The Indian Head Nickel is almost worn smooth. It has been "punched" to give it a convex shape. The inside of the nickel appears to have been soldered to something at one time. This necklace does need to be restrung to be safely worn.

This item has been reduced in price by at least 20% from the original price. Once a month this item will continue to be reduced in price by an additional 5%, until it is sold.