Bead Size question`

[Heals the Wild]

Hi! I was wondering if anyone can tell me what size beads are used in the older Mohawk raised beadwork. I am working on some projects and want to make an order. Also, what company do you recommend ordering these type of beads from.

Thanks for your help!:p

[Riverwoman]

Sorry I don't know, but maybe you could ask BlackBear, she is full of knowledge and very helpfull:D

[Blackbear]

on all the old stuff I have seen up close and personal... it appears they used size 10 and 11 beads..but I keep reading about how they used microbeads (like those italian tiny beads). Now that might have been at the beginning of the victorian influence..or it might have just been on skirts and leggings and aprons or kilts. I have yet to see one though with my own eyes that was beaded with that small a bead... like I said...10's and 11's... I think I suggested this to you in PM ..but you want to see MANY good examples of the old stuff...go through ebay...just browse the pics ..type in the keyword Iroquois Whimsey... or Iroquois beadwork and you will have alot of things pop up.

[Heals the Wild]

Thanks so much Blackbear, you've been a great help. I'm sorry I should have specified better but I'm going to be working on a bag that will be like the one in my attached photo. This is an 1800's bag from my husbands family of Mohawk decent. The beads are much larger than 10's or 11's but I wasn't sure what size they are.

Again, I'm so sorry I didn't clarify the type of piece I was going to be working on.

[Blackbear]

;they could be size 8 then...that is about twice the size of 10's... size 6 would be WAY too large, but 8's would work.

[Blackbear]

OH and those gray cylindrical beads... those might be a bit hard to find...I right now can't recall what they are called...tile beads maybe..but I that's got to be wrong..just know they are transparent and gray... I have a box that was made by someone living at that time on Tuscarora...that is about 100 years old or more..it has those same beads. If you are looking for them..you might want to try giving iroqrafts a jingle.. www.iroqrafts.com and see if they know if they still make them or if they even have them.

[Heals the Wild]

I had thought they might be 8's but I wasn't sure. Thanks for reminding me about Iroqrafts, I hadn't visited their site in a while. I'll head there next!

Thanks again Blackbear for all your help!

[Blackbear]

http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2156989602&category=13744

check out this item and the description....
I have a very hard time believing this whimsey is this old... for a few reasons...number one, you can still see the white paper under the flowers and it is still clean, two, it is lined with brown paper bag and the lineing is in excellent condition for being brown paper that is 118 years old... and there appear to be some beads that were'nt made back then on this piece... anyone take a look and tell me what you think. It also says it was made at caughnawaga (mohawk rez in canada) but the seller does'nt know much obviously cause she thought it was unusual cause she thought that iroquois indians made these (snicker). Anyhow ..like I said..tell me what you think.

[ingrambead]

ebay piece

I'd say that piece is BRAND NEW or at least from 1985. It may be a replication of one from 1885 but the colors are new.

I met with several Tuscorora (sp?) beaders at the Smithsonian last year. They are awesom AND I got to take a class with one of them. They were useing 10's and 8's in the work thay displayed and were working on. The items in the Smithsonian'sfantastic exhibit did have micro beads on some items, especially the edge work on clothing ans somme whimsy like items that I'm sure were never intended for tourists. It was a wonderful and very enlightening experience.