Antique Chinese Yellow Melon Beads from Irian Jaya Papua CRBM 10143

On offer, are several rare old yellow melon beads 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. 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 these beads are called blimbing (starfruit) as they resemble a starfruit. The yellow melon beads are also known as "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 the 18th century, early in the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty. Other references include "Collectible Beads" by Robert Liu (p. 92) and Manik-Manik di Indonesia by S. Adhyatman and R. Arifin, p. 81. SOL