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History of
Beading
For nearly 40 000 years
people have been using beads as adornment. The earliest
beads were actually rocks or bones strung on some sort
of fiber or vine. Primitive man wore animal bones
hoping the souls of the creature would protect them from
harm. Native tribes used seeds, nutshells, even animal
teeth to string on vines. Some learned to make clay
beads and decorate them with paint.
The Egyptians have been
credited with creating the first glass beads, but the
actual root of glass bead making is questionable. The
Egyptians became quite creative with glass, creating
intricate color designs. The Egyptians not only used
beads as adornment but as something of spiritual value.
Different beads signified state of mind, societal status
or celestial beings.
The Romans used beads as
currency, trading them across the Empire and as far as
Indonesia. Romans are credited with using beads to make
the first abacus. As with the Egyptians, the Romans
were always searching for the most valuable beads such
as pearls to adorn themselves hoping for protection of
the goddess Isis.
The Vikings are one of the
earliest cultures to create jewellery with beads and
metal. Colorful glass beads were used to create
necklaces, beaded bracelet
and amulets.
Europe in the 1800’s found
a new use for beads. Intricate designs were created and
sewn into ball gowns, purses and slippers. Couturiers
worked for months to create wearable art for aristocrats
and were paid handsomely for their wares.
In the 20th
century Victorians and Edwardians draped themselves with
elaborately beaded garments. After the 2nd
World War and the plastic revolution, plastic beads were
incredibly cheap to produce. The market for costume
jewellery practically exploded.
Today
beads are manufactured in
several countries around the world. Humans have come a
long way in creating an incredible variety of colorful
beads using many different materials. We certainly must
give thanks to the ancient cultures before us for their
contribution to one of today's most popular arts.
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