For Sale: An impressive necklace composed of around 100 old trade beads of Chinese origin, featuring a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. These beads were historically traded by Malay and Chinese merchants who travelled to Papua to exchange goods such as bird of paradise feathers, trepang (sea cucumber), and sandalwood — a trade network that has existed for centuries. The beads date from the 18th to 19th century and reflect the far-reaching maritime connections between Asia and Melanesia during that period. This piece was field collected by us in the 1980s in Papua and has remained in a private collection ever since. It is an authentic and historically significant example of early inter-island trade and cultural exchange. Packed with care Sending worldwide Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, expert and author of the book “Papua Blues”, written in Dutch. (Maybe in English next year.)  Published end of October 2024 A book about inside stories, a book that deals with the many encounters with special people in West Papua, the impressive experiences that the author has, about special encounters with men and women who tell him about secret things, about ethnographic objects and initiate him into the rituals and ceremonies. A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums   Google:Papua Blues Koos Knol