Compositional analysis of glass beads from Borneo and Java
Resource type
Journal article
Creator (person)
Carter, Alison
Campbell Cole, Barbie
Green, Alexandra
Date published
2025
Abstract
In this paper, we present the results from compositional analysis of heirloom glass beads from the island of Borneo and Java, Indonesia. A large portion of the beads in this
study are from Borneo and housed in the British Museum’s collections. A smaller subset of beads from Campbell Cole’s collection likely come from Java. Previous studies of heirloom beads from Borneo (e.g., Campbell Cole 2022) have raised questions about where the beads came from and the trade networks that brought them to Borneo. Using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) we have identified four glass compositions used to produce the beads: soda-lime glasses, lead glasses, mixed-alkali glasses, and potash glass. Using comparative datasets, we attempt to identify possible manufacturing locations for the glass and find that many beads likely derive from 19th-century CE Venetian workshops. It is hoped that these bead compositions will be of use to future scholars studying glass beads and their exchange in the region.
Journal title
BEADS (Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers)
Volume
37
Official URL