CLAM SHELL (SIMULATED)WAMPUM BEADWORK

CHOKER

I recently completed this wampum choker woven in the traditional manner using a heavy deer leather cording as the warp and a sinew material for the weft securely locking each bead in place. This choker is made in a manner to be worn using glass crow beads to adjust the fit around the neck, allowing the lacing to hang as a fringe. These were worn by woodland Indian tribes and by early colonial longhunters, scouts, and frontiersman. This choker is made three beads tall and measures 12 ½ inchs in length. The lacing is left long for securing to the neck making the choker along with the lacking cord 32 inches. The color scheme of a purple background with a white pattern.

I used an acrylic simulated bead handmade by the Waaban Aki Crafting Company out of Conn. THis is a very beautiful bead costing 5 cents each. They are identical to the real clam shell beads and are even used by museums to repair historic wampum belts. Please note these beads are not the glass wampum I mainly use. They are perfect for any early Woodland Indian impression where clam shell wampum would have been used.

This choker would make a great addition for any woodland Indian or Longhunter reenactor. It would also make a beautiful addition as a decorative piece for any frontier motif in your home or office.

Please feel free to email me any questions you may have, or for information on custom work. You may also view more of my woodland items on ebay’s MY STORE at Art of America Past Gallery. There is also a wide selection of my eastern frontier artwork which has been featured many times as cover art on the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s magazine MUZZLE BLASTS.