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. And they're colorful, made of various interesting materials, and can be combined in endless configurations. With more than 100 crisp color photos and intelligently written text that reaps the benefits of the author's 30 years of research, The History of Beads documents bead styles and uses in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Far East. Ranging from prehistoric times to the 20th century, this book stops along the way to consider the magic eye bead, prayer beads, and beads with other special attributes. An eight-page color gatefold section offers a fascinating timeline of the bead's history at a glance. Bead devotees can satisfy their curiosity about their medium of choice and draw inspiration for their own creations from the beautiful photos of necklaces, collars, bags, headdresses, and other beaded ornaments. --Amy Handy


From Library Journal
Beads have played an important role in every major civilization and have traveled widely as valuable and easily portable objects of adornment. This comprehensive and visually stimulating history focuses on the bead in its cultural context as personal decoration, currency, status symbol, magical charm, and form of cultural communication. Complementing the well-documented text are full-page color photographs of beads from museums and private collections; maps showing bead-making centers and distribution routes; and a fold-out chart of every major bead type (over 1230) from the dawn of history to the present. Highly recommended for academic and large public libraries. Janice Zlendich, California State Univ. Lib., FullertonCopyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Ojime from Japan, dZi from the Himalayas, wampum from North America, and bodom from Africa are just some the over 2,000 exquisite designs captured in this history of beads from every world region and every major culture. Fascinating tales of origins, uses, and symbolism accompany a visual feast of rare designs made of precious stones and metals, bone, shells, wood, pearls, glass, plastics, amber, and other materials. 9" x 12". Color & b&w photos.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

40,000 years of bead history, from Neolithic times to the present. Over 350 illustrations, including 254 plates in full color, reproducing beads from every world region and every major historic culture.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal