March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Maine Indian beadwork subject of Sunday talk

OLD TOWN — Columbus gave Venetian glass beads to the Indians. French explorers gave them beads from Paris. Are any of those beads in the display of Indian beadwork at the Old Town Museum?

An illustrated talk by Carol Smith-Breckling of Brewer at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, at the museum may give a hint.

Our Indians, explains Smith-Breckling, got their beads from the French. At first, blue-and-white glass predominated. Explorers also gave them silk ribbons which, by that time, had gone out of fashion in Paris. The Indians did exquisite beadwork on them.

Indian beadwork owned by the Maine State Museum is considered to be too fragile to be out on loan, so those items will be represented by “gorgeous slides in color,” according to the speaker. The program will encompass beadwork from the Maine tribes — the Penobscots, Micmacs and Maliseets.

All are welcome.


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