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Beading History

Stringing beads together is an art that mankind has known since ancient times and that has been carried out for many reasons such as symbolizing religious beliefs. Back in the ancient world tribes used the bones of wild animals and would string them onto fibers and would then wear them for protection believing that they would be safe from bad spirits.

As human civilization advanced beading progressed as a result of man learning how to pierce objects through drilling holes. Necklaces would be created from many objects that would include seashells, seed pods 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 used to make the most wonderful necklaces. They would use glass that would come in many different colors and they would combine these colored glass beads with gemstones, both precious and semi-precious. Silver and gold would also be added.

There would be a great demand for beads and they would become a valuable trading commodity that would be exported and traded all around the world since 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 their 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 Indian tribes in the Americas would train their womenfolk at becoming adept in the beading arts. 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 product is what is valued most and not the workmanship that created it.

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