From top end: round red, triangular red catlinite, tubular catlinite, round red, 2nd tubular red catlinite (280 in white), another round red, then blue bead large with starbursts on either end (star beads), another round red, another star bead, 1 tubular rectangular bead blue in center with white and then blue on the outside, 2nd centre is red, with white in middle then green on outside, has a number "20", 3rd goes back to being blue centre, white, blue on outside, one final red catlinite tube incised one end round and worked, other end is broken, one final round red bead. Glass beads, as well.

Strung, possibly by museum.

Last red catlinite tube is square and along edge is incised in a pattern. 4 etches/space/4 etches/space/2 space. Edges are notched and surfaces have zig zags. See detailed photo.

Should talk to Trudy Nicks about the star beads.

F. Barlow Cumberland, Catalogue and Notes of the Oronhyatekha Historical Collection (Toronto: Independent Order of Foresters, 1904), p 49, Item 280. "Venetian Glass and Catlinite Beads. Bead necklets - The wearing of these decorations was not confined to the women but was largely affected by the men. The bears' teeth in some indicates their wearers' prowess in hunting. Small rounded, and long catlinite and shell beads were laboriously bored by the Indians. These shell beads were principally made of parts of shells from the Atlantic coast, white and purple in colour, the purple being considered the more valuable. The white fur trader introduced the more gaudily shaped and coloured kind. Comparison of the red catlinite No. 280, and the red Venetian of No. 283, will show how closely the trader followed the native production."

Unknown artist, beads. Currently in the Royal Ontario Museum, 911.3.39. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2008; GRASAC item id 24573.

Record created as a result of a GRASAC-sponsored research trip to the Royal Ontario Museum, December 15-19, 2008. Research costs supported by a SSHRC Aboriginal Research Grant (2007-2010, Ruth Phillips, PI).
Record created during post-trip clean up by project RA Lisa Truong, under the supervision of Heidi Bohaker.