Beads History

The Development of Beading

The art of stringing beads together has been known to mankind since ancient times and has been practiced for many reasons including symbolizing religious beliefs. In the ancient world tribes would use the bones of animals and string them onto fibers and would wear them believing that they would protect the wearer from bad spirits.

As human civilization advanced beading progressed as a result of man learning how to pierce objects through drilling holes. Necklaces were created out of many objects such as seed pods, seashells and nut shells as well as many other objects. Bead development would later progress by coloring the beads. Clay beads would often be coated in enamel

The Egyptians were masters of glass making and they would revolutionize bead making as glass beads were far more beautiful and could be use to make the most wonderful necklaces. They would use glass of many different colors and combine these colored glass beads with precious and semi-precious gemstones. Silver and gold would also be added.

Beads would become in great demand and would become a valuable trading commodity and were traded and exported all around the world, even as far back as ancient times. Many cultures would embrace beading especially the Chinese, Babylonians and in ancient India.

The Romans also had a great influence on the development of beading and they would trade beads all over the different parts of the Roman Empire. This influence would spread to to the Vikings and the Celts who would develop wonderful amulets, necklaces and bracelets. The Native American Indians would also embrace beading and there works are still used today in modern fashion such as turquoise colored watch bands, belts and necklaces.

Beading was and still is an integral part of Native American culture. Many America Indian tribes would train their women to become adept in the art of beading. A technique called bead quilling was considered sacred. It was the art and workmanship of bead quilling itself that was considered sacred and not the finished beaded products themselves. That is rather different to the norm in Western societies where the finished products is what is valued most and not the workmanship that created it.