The Frost Trade Bead Collection Gallery
Larger Beads
Glass and Tile Tube Beads
This card contains both glass and tile beads. The glass tubes appear shinier than the tile beads (see bottom row). Tile beads were made by molding a clay mixture and firing it. Although it is vitrified, much like porcelain, and has a high silica content, it is not true glass. It is closer to the dull glass seen in many early Roman and Syrian beads.
The curved tubes are called elbow beads. There are also square-shaped tube beads on this card. This type of bead was molded rather than drawn or lampworked. Elbow beads are among the types that Stephen A. Frost & Son exported to Africa.Collection of the Illinois State Museum
Photograph by Gary Andrashko, ISM
ISM Accession #: 1941-0083
