Did you know...

...that beads are among the most common items unearthed from ancient graves.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries many glass beads were shipped from Venetian and Bohemian factories to African destinations and they were traded through middle men before reaching their tribal owners. During the past two to three decades they have been sold again to bead traders for re-export to the Western world. Europeans exchanged glass beads for beaver pelts in North America, for spices in Indonesia, and gold, ivory and slaves in Africa.

The "eye bead" was used to meet people's age-old need for protection against evil - hence the saying "evil eye". They served as protective amulets, eyes on beads that can see in all directions.  They encourage the viewer to look away from them and keep safe the wearer.

The earliest known beads are associated with Neanderthal man, discovered in France and dated to approximately 38,000 B.C. They were made from grooved teeth and bones which were worn as pendants.

Prayer Beads are commonly associated with the middle-ages (A.D 600-140) and Roman Catholicism. Today, the religions of nearly two-thirds of the worlds population utilise some form of prayer beads.

Worry Beads, like prayer beads are made from a great many materials, plastic, glass, wood, amber and semi-precious stones. Their primary function is as a release for tension which provides a security that may in fact be subconsciously spiritual.

Beads are an important part of a communicative system in all African societies. Adornment, particularly with beads, communicate cultural values in a symbolic language that express rank, religion, politics and artistic attitudes.

In the Western world we tend to take for granted the Bead, but when we truly think of their use they become little secrets of history that reflect our past and present, and for those to come, our future.

Source: Lois Dubin "History of Beads"
Adapted by: Barbara Johnson, Bead Gallery

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