Like white hearts and Cornaline D’Aleppos, green hearts were
made specifically for world trade. Hauled by ship and pack animal and exchanged
hand-to-hand with local people for natural resources, these beads were used in
much of Africa. Because green hearts also were traded in North America
for furs and other goods, some call them Hudson’s Bay trade beads.
The green heart gets its name from its core of dark or
medium green glass. Layered over the green glass is a matte coating in brick
red. The tube shape features rather large holes; its texture sometimes shows a
bit of crackling. Because they are considered by collectors as two-compound
beads, green hearts are relatives of the more exotic white heart bead (a white
or clear glass core with red glass coating) and the Cornaline D’Aleppo bead (pink or purple glass
coated with gold oxide to produce a red exterior).
Each set is two strands for $50 total. Sets A, D and E available. ~34" long
Will combine shipments.