What Is Beads?
Beads
A Bead are small, decorative object that is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes of a material such as stone, bone, shell, glass, plastic, wood or pearl and with a small hole for threading or stringing. Beads range in size from under 1 millimetre to over 1 centimetre in diameter.
A Short History of Beads
Beads have been used by cultures, religions and subcultures for personal adornment, communication and trade across the world. Today, we see beads used in artworks, jewellery making, embroidery, costume design and much, much more. We have recently started stocking an incredible range of beads and stones by Rico, so to celebrate the humble bead we take a quick look at its fascinating history, which spans thousands of years.
A way to communicate
In 2006 archaeologists discovered what is said to be the oldest surviving beads; small sea snail shells perforated with holes dated between 90,000 and 100,000 years old. Located in Isreal and Algeria, the discovery of the beads so far from the sea, told researchers that they must have been either used for trade or collected by humans indicating that symbolic behaviour in humans dated back further than previously thought.
A form of currency
Before the advent of glassmaking, beads were made from natural objects and materials such as shells, seed pods, bone, clay, ivory and coral across the world by different cultures. During Colonial times, Europeans brought Venetian glass beads to the Americas and Africa to trade with. Trade Beads, or Slave Beads as they are often referred to, became a lucrative method of establishing trade routes for the colonial trading companies.
here was no one type of style for Trade Beads, as they were made as per the taste and desire of whoever the Colonials were trading with. The beads were successful as a form of currency because glassmaking was uncommon at the time.
A Decorative Artform
Beadwork is archetypal of Native American tribes and is a tradition still practised today. The introduction of trade beads by Europian Colonists completely changed the way in which Native Americans worked with them. Previously beads had been handmade by a long process, after the introduction of glass beads, Native American’s realised the creative possibilities of using these small coloured beads. Native American beadwork is a decorative art form and has been used on clothing, horse gear and for items found within the homestead. Designs were embroidered onto fabric or woven using a loom, the style and type of design varied from tribe to tribe. Although now the ways of life have changed for Native Americans, bead working traditions have continued and are an important part of their heritage.
Beadwork Today
Today beads are used to express our identity in fashion and jewellery and used decoratively within textiles, craft and design. Beads are now readily available across the world in a whole host of colours, styles and sizes. In our next blog post, we take a look at tutorials that will help get you inspired to start beading!
What are beads used for?
Beads have been used by cultures, religions and subcultures for personal adornment, communication and trade across the world. Today, we see beads used in artworks, jewellery making, embroidery, costume design and much, much more.
What is the symbolism of beads?
Beads generally symbolize positive things including protection, union, growth, good luck, etc.
Where beads are made?
These glass beads come from three main sources: glass beads traded over the Sahara, from Egypt and other middle Eastern and Islamic sources; glass beads traded over the sea, from Europe, particularly Venice in Italy, Bohemia, and Holland; and glass beads made in West Africa, mostly in Ghana.
Where did beads come from?
The first known glass-type beads were Egyptian faience beads which were made from clay, but had a thin lustrous glass-type (vitreous) coating. From about 5,000 – 2,000 years ago (a period of remarkable stability in Egypt), Egyptian bead-makers often worked under the patronage of kings or priests.
What is bead made of?
A bead is a small, decorative object that is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes of a material such as stone, bone, shell, glass, plastic, wood or pearl and with a small hole for threading or stringing.
How do you identify beads?
If your beads have holes drilled into them, the finish of the holes can help you identify their substance. The holes of glass beads may have a powdery look, while plastic beads appear untouched. Transparent glass beads may look frosty around the area where the hole was drilled; plastic beads will not have this quality.
What do bead colors mean?
Green: prosperity, fertility, abundance, hope, healing. Purple: spirituality, wisdom, royalty. Red: vitality, passion, bravery, confidence. White: light, truth, purity. Yellow: wisdom, clarity, awareness, energy, joy.
Why do African wear beads?
In some African societies, female children are adorned with waist beads by their moms once they get their period to mark their rite of passage into womanhood. These beads symbolise the female child’s transition from childhood to adulthood, proof of her fertility and sexuality.
What is the shape of beads?
They come in a variety shapes, the most common being rocaille (round) seed beads. Other shapes include square, triangle, drop, bugle, and hexagon.
What is the importance of beads in the fashion industry?
Beads have come to signify uniqueness in style and individual expression. They provide a new, modern look in fashion. In the 1970s, the public saw home made jewelry as a symbol of the “hippie” culture. Long strands of love beads were as interesting as things got.
Types Of African Beads;
Some of the most well-known varieties of African beads today are Krobo Beads, Kakamba Beads, Mali Clay Beads and Mali Wedding Beads, Chevrons, Millefiori, Vaseline Beads, White Heart Beads, Kiffa Beads, and Hebron Beads.
Prices Of Some Beads In Ghana;
