VINTAGE BEADS, PENDANTS, DROPS, AND TASSLES

They are in unused condition, and like most of the others in this find, so far as we can tell, there are no other examples of these to be found anywhere online, or anywhere else period. These were the only plastic beads stashed away with the hippie beads, but are substantially older. 

They are in unused condition, and are uncommon. They were sold as hippie beads in the late 60s from a bead store near the Haight Ashbury area. In 1967, the hippie phenomena dominated the area and the demand for beads was huge. The owner of this store put out the call that he wanted all types of beads that were either colorful, large, earthenware, or had mystical significance. Some of the items that he brought into the store were much older, and we will note them in the listings. The hardcore hippies wanted glass or ceramic or earthenware, so that is what most of these items are. The lucite stuff was for the fake hippies. The demand started slacking as the hippie phenomena died down and by the mid 1970s, they started selling gold chains and disco related items instead. The hippie items were taken from the front shelves, and stored in the back. The newspaper they were wrapped in was dated 1977, so that's when they put them back there. The most striking thing in the store is an old display of huge African Trade Bead necklaces from the 1800s. They were even selling those sort of beads to the hippies. One of those necklaces will run you about 2 grand now. That place is a real time warp. You could still smell incense around some of the boxes and I kept hearing Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane in my head. Just amazing.

Here's the incredible story. In 1898, the Societa Veneziana Conterie Consortium was formed. It was a group of 16 bead makers who put their beads in one place so they could be sold by one sales force. Some of the stock was old when it came there in 1898 (these are those)! In recent times, the consortium was dissolved and the remaining 400,000 plus pounds of beads were sold to an American Indian Trading post. We were able to get ahold of a good quantity of the oldest types (the wrapping confirms the are pre WWI). All were made between the 1800s and 1920. They are an incredible bargain.

Click the picture to see a larger more detailed image. You get the 20 vintage pop beads for $1.20 (that's 6¢ each). Vintage 7/8" tall 1960s pop beads. You will get mostly bears (molded bear on both sides). There are a few round types mixed in. Unsold old store stock in excellent condition. These are good quality and still work well. We found these in an old warehouse up in northern Ohio.

They are in unused condition, and like most of the others in this find, so far as we can tell, there are no other examples of these to be found anywhere online, or anywhere else period. These were the only plastic beads stashed away with the hippie beads, but are substantially older.