From Athabaskan shot pouches to Xhosa neckpieces, from Greenland to Bali. . . in this remarkable book, beadwork from all around the world is illustrated and its history revealed. The worldwide transformation of beads into intricate articles and embellishments is turned into a coherent story for the first time. The result will inspire collectors and designers, and anyone interested in art, craft and fashion.
After an introduction and an in-depth survey of bead manufacturing centres in Europe and Asia, the book is organized into five principal sections, with over 40 topics. Four main regional sections – on Africa; the Americas; Asia, Oceania and the Arabian Gulf; and Europe – outline the history and trade routes of beads in each area, with an accompanying map, before examining the beadwork in detail. A fifth section surveys construction and techniques, from brick stitch and herringbone weave to lazy stitch and three-dimensional structures.