The definitive book on the history and culture of beads, written by the two biggest (and bestselling) authorities in this popular field. World Beads explores bead traditions from around the globe and provides how-to instruction for 30 projects.

Sophisticated glass baubles from Venice, intricate silver filigree from India intriguing batik bone from central Africa--dazzling and elegant beads from around the world have earned a passionate following among designers, collectors, and jewelry-makers. The international traditions of the craft have brought a new audience to the field, one that values the history of beads as well as their beauty.

Featuring thirty step-by-step projects for creating replicas of authentic traditional beaded jewelry, this richly illustrated book explores world bead traditions. Including examples of the most beautiful and rare beads made around the globe, and written by the two leading experts in the field, World Beads shows us that these ornaments have played a significant role in all cultures and throughout history. They have been an elegant adornment, a convenient type of money, and a talismanic charm that can bring luck or ward off evil. 7-he accessible text by Janet Coles and Robert Budwig begins by explaining the fascinating ways these ornaments are made and used-from nuts and seeds strung onto necklaces to handblown glass. Organized by geographic region, the book discusses the diversity of beads and beadmaking techniques around the world, illustrated with more than 350 photographs that show their extraordinary texture and color. First are the traditions of Europe and the Middle East, including Baltic amber, Venetian glass, and English iet. The authors then move to Africa's locally madebeads and trade pieces, including examples from the Masai, the Zulu, and from Egypt. Next, the Indian subcontinent includes the bone beads of the Naga people, lac work from Jaipur, and Afghan lapis lazuli. In the Far East and Southeast Asia, silverwork from Bali, cloisonne from China, and pearls from Japan are presented. Finally, in the Americas, Coles and Budwig show us beaded jewelry made from coral, silver, seeds, feathers, and turquoise, as well as Peruvian ceramic beads and pre-Columbian gold and rock crvstal.

Introduction 6

Early Beads 6

Contemporary Artists' Beads 9

Finding and Buying Beads 9

Europe and the Middle East 10

Venice and the Island of Murano 14

Trade Beads for Africa 20

Coral Beads from the Bay of Naples 22

Amber: Gold of the North 24

Victorian Jet 26

The Glassmakers of Bohemia 30

Stonecutting in the Rhineland 34

The Middle East 39

Africa 40

Enamel Work from Morocco 44

Mauritania 48

Tuareg 50

Ancient and Modern Egypt 52

Horn of Africa 56

The Masai 60

Ndebele Beadwork 65

Zulu Beadwork 66

Kenya: Batik Bone and Ostrich Shells 68

Ghana Recycled Glass Beadmaking 70

Lost-Wax Method 72

Bida Glassmakers 74

The Indian Subcontinent 74

Indian Glass Beads 78

Prayer Beads 80

Bone and Horn Beads from Delhi 82

Nagaland 86

Lac Beads fromJaipur in Rajasthan 90

Ceramic Beads from Varanasi 91

Tibet: Turquoise, Amber, and dZi 92

Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan 96

The East and Oceania 100

Chinese Jade 104

Sea Pearls and Freshwater Pearls 110

Japanese Glass 114

Balinese Silver Beadwork 118

Thai Silver 122

The Philippines 124

Oceania 128

The Americas 130

Native Americans 134

The Pueblo People of Santo Domingo 138

Mexico: Jade, Gold, and Modern Glass 142

Beads in Peru: Past and Present 146

Pre-Columbian Cultures 150

Brazil: Stones, Seeds, and Feathers 154

Bead Suppliers 156

Museums 156

Photography Acknowledgments I57

Index 158

Acknowledgments 160

Projects

Thirty step-by-step bead projects include:

Art Deco Venetian Glass Necklace 19

Jet Necklace 29

Czech Glass Five-Stranded Necklace 32

Faceted Cornelian from ldar-Oberstein 37

Moroccan Berber Necklace 46

Mauritanian Silver-lnlaid Necklace 19

Tuareg Cross 50

Faience Collar 19

Ethiopian Necklace of Silver and Glass 59

Masai Collar 63

African Cowrie Shell and Rocailles Earrings 64

Rudraksha Nut Temple Necklace 81

Bone Bead Belt 84

Naga Necklace 89

Necklace of" Antique Tibetan Turguoise 94

Necklace of Lapis Lazuli Disks 99

Jade Pendant 106

Cloisonne Necklace 108

Ten-Strand Necklace of Freshwater Pearls 113

Delicas Bracelet 116

Balinese Earrings and Necklace 120

Wooden Necklace from the Philippines 126

Rarotonga Shell Necklaces 129

Zini Fetish Necklace i37

Heishi, Turquoise, and Coral Necklace 140

Necklace of "Peridots" from Cuatemala

Peru Clay Necklace and Earrings 149

Colombian Seed and Feather Necklace 152