Lime container

East Indonesia’s abundance of spices turned it into a destination of international trade routes early on. When the Dutch monopolised the trade in the region as of the 18th century, glass beads became widely accepted as currency.
Beads are highly popular in East Indonesia and passed down through families as heirlooms. Among the most popular beads are the orange-red mutisalah (“false pearls”) from Arikamedu, India. Wedding brides may exchange them for gold for buffalos.