bead

Three separate strings of spherical, pearlised white and gold glass beads that finish with larger beads in different colours. Two have been threaded onto plant fibre string and the other onto copper wire. One has a large white bead on the end, the other a large blue bead and the third has two large blue beads. These were likely manufactured in Europe and used as trade items between Europeans and Congolese people. Attributed to the Lokele people.

Collected by Rev. Kenred Smith in Northern Democratic Republic of Congo when it was the Congo Free State and later Belgian Congo. He was primarily based at Bopoto (Upoto) Station, a Baptist Missionary Society post on the Upper River from the years 1896 - 1914.