Beading Resources: A History Of Beads

Beads are one of the oldest forms of adornment known to mankind. They’ve been talismans and amulets, money, prayer guides and simply jewellery to make the wearer seem more beautiful or more powerful.

The earliest beads date back 40,000 years and they were made from almost any material - stones, shells, teeth, claws and clay are some of the most common. There are mentions in Indian history of beads being worn in the hair and in horse tails as early as the 9th Century BC. Beads were found in King Tutunkhamen’s tomb in Egypt and in the Shoso Temple in Nara, Japan there are beads dating back to the 9th Century.

With the discovery of glass, around 1500 BC, the bead became ever more popular.

The word ‘bead’ comes from the Anglo Saxon words ‘bidden’ - meaning to pray - and ‘bede’ - meaning prayer. Hence the Venerable Bede! Prayer beads are still common, especially in the Catholic religion, and they remind the wearer of a cycle of prayer and devotion. Beads are still used in counting, as on the forerunner of the calculator, the abacus. Worry beads keep the hands busy and beads worn as talismans or amulets protect the wearer from evil and promote wisdom and fortune. Beads have even acted as early forms of money.

Glass beads played an important role in the colonisation of the world by the West. Indeed Columbus’ first trade with the people of the Americas was done with the use of red hats and string beads to gain the confidence and admiration of the indigenous people.

Later, the Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors used trade beads. Along with pots, pans and muskets, the bead became an indispensable part of the goods to be traded for items of greater value.