I recently completed this matching pair of wampum wrist ties in the traditional historic manner using a heavy linen flax cording as the warp, and a sinew fiber as the weft securely locking the beads into place. The measurements are 1 1/8 inches in width and 7 inches in length. I have begun using the trade style glass wampum beads which are very popular due to their variations of colors. This set is done in red and dark blue and is 3 beads tall. The weaving is finished with buckskin tabs at the ends and lacing for securing to the wrist.

I use an imported glass wampum bead made by the same Czechoslovakian producer of 18th century wampum. These items are hand crafted historically authentic to that era. The business has been owned by the same family since its days as a leading manufacturer of trade beads. The Czech plant produces the glass wampum on the same machines used over 200 years ago. Glass is and was cheaper than shell and as such, found a large market in the Americas allowing trade of the new wampum beads to flourish. As glass wampum became readily available as a trade item, more native people utilized it. By the close of the 18th century, many wampum adornments were no longer woven from clamshell but from the easily obtainable trade Czech glass.

This 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.