1225 -SOLD Old Heirloom Bonda Tribal Venetian Trade beads - Glass Bead Necklace - Odisha

Sold to a discerning Antique Art-Lover

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The women of the protected 'Bonda' tribe from Odisha wear beads as their main form of clothing

The dozens of strings of beads hung around the neck and shoulders cover the front of the body from the neck to the thighs like a blanket.

A search on Pinterest will show stunning portraits of the tribe.

The handmade uneven beads are said to be venetian glass beads used extensively in trade pre 1900.

Such necklaces were worn by women of several tribes in Eastern India

Necklace is estimated to be from the 1950s while the glass beads are older

*Last three pictures are from a government publication.

Literature Reference

Opie Untracht, Traditional Jewelry of India

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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.

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