What are Beads?

Beads have been used throughout the ages and in virtually every culture, not simply as adornment but to express social circumstances, political occurrences, and religious beliefs; as a form of currency; or as symbolic embodiments of curative powers.

Beads are some of the most stunningly attractive and varied items of jewelry. These are small, round objects made of wood, shell, bone, seed, metal, stone, glass or plastic. It is usually pierced for stringing so that it can be worn for decorative, or in some cultures, for magical purposes. From the breath taking gold designs of ancient Egypt to the exciting renaissance of bead craftsmanship taking place today, beads have been one of the most popular forms of personal adornment. However, they have been much more than jewelry.

Humans create decorative beads for human purposes, while human purposes give rise to beads. Beads have been used throughout the world in countless ways: as talismans in prehistoric and contemporary societies; as status symbols in the ancient world and in modern Africa; as religious artifacts in the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Islamic faiths, and as a standard medium of barter in almost every country.

History of Beads

Beads first appeared over 40,000 yrs ago, they have been made on every continent from local materials.

The earliest Egyptian beads from circa 4000 BC were made of stone, feldspar, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise, hematite, or amethyst and were variously shaped (sphere, cone, shell, animal head) by 3000-2000 BC, gold beads in tubular shapes were in use. From the Middle Ages to the 18th century, trade in beads was enormous. Today the richness of beadwork varies with fashion.

Forms of Beads

Natural Beads - The first category of 'bead' includes holed objects formed by Nature. These natural objects require nothing more than string to become beads. These objects are not beads until somebody puts a string through the hole. Before the string, while the object is lying in Nature, it is performing natural functions, not human bead functions. Its bead 'spirit' is achieved only when someone picks it up and runs a string through it. Nature provides the 'body'; humans provide the 'spirit'.

True Beads - The second category of 'bead' arises when someone forms a bead from raw materials. Bead creation involves the conscious mechanical transformation of materials for bead purposes. Shells are drilled (a hole is made) or molten glass is wound on a rod (another hole is made). These efforts usually result in beads symmetrical to the perforation, but asymmetrical beads may also be created. Raw materials are given bead 'body' and 'spirit' and, with a string through the hole, true beads are created. Human purposes are sometimes expressed in beads and, therefore, these purposes give rise to beads. Humans supply the 'body' and 'spirit' of true beads.

Introduced Manmade Beads - The third category of 'bead' includes non-bead objects made for non-bead purposes. Appropriate small holed objects are sometimes adapted to bead functions. Such beads retain their original non-bead bodies, but are imbued with bead 'spirit'. While these objects perform bead functions and purposes with the application of string, they are just as easily repatriated to their non-bead functions. For a time, such an object has bead 'spirit' applied to it by humans, but not bead 'body'. In this category are bead-like objects, such as buttons.

Dysfunctional Beads - The fourth category of 'bead', one that emerges from the third, is the dysfunctional bead. A bead of any category becomes dysfunctional when it loses its 'body' or 'spirit'. A Natural or True Bead so broken as to have lost its perforation may be considered dysfunctional. An introduced manmade bead also becomes dysfunctional when it is returned to its original role or dismounted from its string. A bead used for purposes other than those intended by the makers of beads or for purposes not dictated by normal cultural standards, may also be considered dysfunctional. The best example of this latter might be beads used as bullets. Beads become dysfunctional by losing either their 'body' or 'spirit'.