Home » So Crafty

History of Beads

Beaddoodler by Beaddoodler

History of Beads World Wide

I find the history of beads a fascinating subject. Beads have been found by archaeologists in every part of the world. Beads were the first artifacts found that didn't relate to hunting and the daily necessities. These finds date back as far as 40,000 years ago.


The earliest known beads were made from shells, animal teeth, animal claws and various seeds. Later beads were made from clay, faience, then glass. It isn't known for sure, but some historians think that the earliest beadwork was for religious purposes and was thought to protect the wearer from evil or attract certain good fortune.

Some historical novels based on thorough research project the idea that beadwork also signified rank or social status.

Beads in Egypt

Some historians give credit to the Egyptians for inventing faience beads, others say the process originated in Mesopotamia then was imported to Egypt. This process involves mixing clay with lime, soda and silica sand, shaping it around a straw or other object to form a hole and firing it. The heat melts the silica sand and lime forming a glass-like substance that coats and is incorporated into the clay. This gives a hard glass-like bead and some think it may have been the forerunner to glass making.

The Egyptians were manufacturing glass beads in 1365 BC. They mixed metal salts with silica sand and lime to produce different colors. Cobalt produced blue, tin white, copper green and gold red. At that time glass was used by the Egyptians almost exclusively for beads for ornamentation. Judith Illes has a very interesting article on "Fabulous Fakes".

Historians are still puzzling over whether their jewelry was simply for adornment, or if, as in the case of many ancient cultures, different colors or stones represented different protective or healing properties. Mummies were often covered in a beaded netting, some with religious symbols worked into them.

The History of Beads

If you're interested in the history of beads don't miss this great book by Lois Sherr Dubin. It covers the history of beads from 30,000 BC to the present time, is divided into counties and cultures and has beautiful pictures.
Loading

Venetian and Czech Beads

There is evidence that China has been making and exporting glass beads for centuries, but the most renowned bead factory was located in Venice Italy until concerns that a mishap with one of the glass furnaces could destroy the city. The factory was moved to Murano, an island north of Venice. A guild of Venetian glass makers held a near monopoly on bead making for nearly 600 years until they were no longer able to keep up with demand.

Bohemia (Czechoslovakia) had been making glassware such as vases and cups for centuries and were well versed in the art of glass making. Bohemian workers were sent to work in the glass factories of Murano and the knowledge they brought back to their homeland enabled the Bohemians to begin production of glass beads. In the mid 18th century they were producing more beads than the factories at Murano.

Glass and Brass beads have been found in burial sites of many cultures: Egyptian tombs, Roman catacombs, Saxon, African, and American Indian to name just a few.

Other Bead and Beadwork Lenses

Loading

More History of Beads

You can find more information about the history of beads in these links.
Ancient beads
The Ancient World... The ancient world was far
flung and full of mysteries, legends, adventures, romances, and battles
won and lost...  and eons later we are still excavating the reminders
of those times...  All the antiquities listed below are guaranteed to
be authentic, and dated as be
Beads, a brief history.
Free article on the history of beads. Many other craft related articles
available at Craftown.
Beadwork, Revival of a Dieing Art
Some of the most beautiful jewelry is hand made using various beadwork stitches. This type of jewelry lost favor for a while, but is now enjoying a revival.
World’s Oldest Manufactured Beads Are Older Than Previously Thought
Archaeologists have uncovered some of the world's earliest shell ornaments in a limestone cave in Eastern Morocco. The researchers have found 47 examples of Nassarius marine shells, most of them perforated and including examples covered in red ochre, at the Grotte des Pigeons at Taforalt.
Africa meets Africa in Newtown
 
city of johannesburg - Museum celebrates African art
Official web site of the City of Johannesburg, information for residents and visitors, what's on, city services, daily news reports, Museum Africa gets new wing
daxdesigns bead art: Peyote, gourd or running-bond stitch: what's in a name?
History is often tricky to piece together so it shouldn't be surprising that the history of beadweaving is not straightforward. Nowhere is this clearer than in trying to piece together the history of an off-loom beadweaving stitch that is widely called Peyote stitch.

The Bead Doodler's Blog

Visit my blog for updates on my beading and other crafts.
Loading

Did You Enjoy This Lens?

Bookmark it so your friends can enjoy it too.

Add this to your lens »

Bookmark and Share

What do you think of beads and their history?

Share your thoughts, but please don't spam my guestbook. Thanks

  • Jewelsofawe Dec 23, 2010 @ 10:45 pm | delete
    Beads are interesting. I think so too
  • Geekness_FortWorth Feb 22, 2010 @ 4:09 pm | delete
    I keep thinking I should do a mummy cover, but if they bury it with me I'll die. Beads are for the living. The great things have been around forever, pottery, glass, beads. Thanks for the lens.
  • TanyaWhaley Jan 6, 2010 @ 7:16 pm | delete
    Truly Awesome lens! Love it! 5 *'s and favorited! Happy New Year! Wish you all the best!
  • Beaddoodler Apr 21, 2009 @ 11:53 am | in reply to 0ctavias0fferings | delete
    Thanks for the read rate and comment. Yes I do plan to expand on this, but they will be different lenses about different countries. May take a while! :)
  • 0ctavias0fferings Apr 21, 2009 @ 10:35 am | delete
    Very nice lens and a subject I'm sure you could add to. 5* and a sprinkling of Angel Dust
Show All

This So Crafty page written by

Beaddoodler

Hello. My name is Jennie Hennesay AKA The Bead Doodler.
I'm interested in any kind of alternative healing and natural living.
Hand crafting has been... more »

Create something new! Show off your work! Time to get So Crafty!

Connect with So Crafty

This author recommends...