Beadwork Throughout The Ages

103 23
If you visit any museum you are bound to see a collection of beadwork on display.
In the old days beads were used as a currency.
Different cultures throughout the world used stone beads in jewelry and body adornments.
While they may not all have believed in the same God or even the same spirits, most ancient cultures used beads in one shape or another.
In some it was the men who wore the body decorations while in others it was the women.
Archaeologists have discovered beads dating back hundreds of thousands of years.
In some cases, shells were discovered to have had holes drilled into them.
These shells showed signs of wear that were taken to prove they were used in body decorations.
Ancient Egyptians used peridot and other semi precious stones to make their jewelry.
They particularly liked Lapis as they believed it to be a symbol of the after life.
Indian beadwork was used as a currency until the settlers introduced currency.
The type of beads used depended on where the tribe was based.
For example those tribes that lived by the banks of rivers tended to use shells whereas those that roamed the prairies would use wooden beads as well as those made from animal bones.
Some Indian beading patterns incorporated semi precious stones such as amber and turquoise.
Green jasper was a particular favorite as it was called the rain-bringer.
The beads were strung using leather strings made from the animals that had been hunted for food.
The Indians didn't just use the beads to trade but they also used them as a means of recording stories for future generations.
They didn't use glass beads until the settlers started trading them.
Some of the stitches originally used by the Native American Indians are found in beadwork all over the world.
The peyote stitch in particular is relatively common.
The beading traditions were passed down from one family member to the next and are still used by many tribe members today.
It is possible to buy the genuine article from certain sites online but there are also many sites selling fake items.
Source...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.