~ Size ~
There is still controversy over the "correct" beads to use to accurately portray a Fur Trade persona, however, there is also some very good information out there that allows us to make educated decisions.It is known as a fact that Lewis & Clark had taken with them both "Pony" beads 2-4mm (refered to at the time as "pound beads"), and Crow beads 4-10mm.
Bodmer and Caitlin showed the pound beads, in their sketches and paintings, sometimes with so much detail that you can even count the beads in the rows.
The "pound beads" of the fur trade era would be equivalent to today's #8 seed bead.
~ Color ~
The colors of pound beads used during the furtrade era were, of course, quite different than the rich variety we have to choose from today. The most pridominenet colors were white, light blue, dark blue, and white-lined red. Dark green, light green, greasy yellow, white-lined rose, and black were used if avaliable, but very few pieces remain that support this.
Here are some great sources for Old Time seed beads:
Crazy Crow Trading Post
Sioux Trading Post
~ Design ~
The Chandler Port collection shows wonderful examples of the transition from pound to seed beads and how the designs gradually became more complicated, too. The first use of beads was to add color to an article and not thought much of as making designs with the beadwork.
By the 1830's they were popular as trims or borders for quillwork, and also as the main decoration on some pieces. Early beadwork designs were also very simple- boxes, triangles, and rectangles.
