A Necklace of Antique Yellow Melon Beads from Irian Jaya, Old Silver and Glass Beads M00670B

This 22" necklace is made of delightful old yellow melon beads, old sterling silver from Indonesia, small red whiteheart beads, and small yellow glass beads of unknown age. The yellow melon beads come from Irian Jaya, West Papua, New Guinea. They are believed to be Chinese in origin, brought to New Guinea by Chinese traders between 1600 and 1850. These beads were incorporated into the tribal money system by the Papuans. There they are said to have been used for ceremonial purposes, as well as, apparently, to purchase brides. These beads can be lemon-colored, or egg yolk yellow color like the ones in this listing; the egg yolk-colored ones appear to be the rarer of the two. In Indonesia, the yellow beads are called blingbling -starfruit, as the beads do resemble the fruit.  These beads are sometimes referred to as "bling-bling" or "blini-blini". Beads like these are described and illustrated in "The Chinese Bead" by Alice T. Williams (G.B. Fenstermaker, 1979), where they are dated to th