Beadwork can easily be considered the number one artform of the woodland Indians.
Used for trade and clothing adornment, they were apart of everyday life.
Most of our beads are sold by the hank and we offer three sizes. We do sell bulk beads individually as well.
Beadwork is the natural outgrowth of quill decoration - the designs are often the same and the type of decoration identical. Whereas once there would be large areas of solid quillwork resembling a separate fabric, with the advent of beads, larege areas also could be covered, either by an applique-type design or by weaving. Thin bands of quills around the toes of moccasins gave way to thin bands of lazy stich bead work.
Beads became a trade item throughout early history. The Dutch, British, French, and Americans used them to procure furs, skins, maple sugar, pemmican and other items. The best beads came from Venice, Italy, but were often exported to other European countries who shipped them to their traders. Today, the best beads come from Czechoslovakia. The quantity available is dimishing while quality suffers, and prices are sky rocketing.
Beads are sized by number. The larger beads such as Crow or Pony, have the lowest numbers. In early times, women preferred the smaller beads - sizes 14, 15, 16. Today, 12 is popular. Seed beads are most common, followed by transparent, opaque, and cut (faceted). There are also rods, tile, hairpipe, bone and novelty beads.
- taken from Native American Beadwork brochure written by Elinor R. Clack - printed by the Indian Arts & Crafts Association