Before contact with European
civilization, Native Americans were making beautiful objects decorated with
natural materials obtained from their own area or through trade. Trade routes
crossed the Americas and extended to the Caribbean Islands, giving access to a
variety of material: shell, metals, semi-precious stones, bone, ivory,
porcupine quills and feathers, to name some of the most common trade items.
Beads, painstakingly made from bone and shell, had many uses including
breastplates and wampum.
The arrival of explorers and traders
from Europe changed the materials Native Americans used, as well as influencing
traditional patterns. The Spanish, English, Dutch and French offered glass
beads as gifts and used as currency in trade. Native Americans quickly adopted
the new material, incorporating glass beads into traditional patterns. Although
the first traders offered the finest beads they could get, including amber,
glass and faceted chevron beads, soon the Native Americans were asking for
beads in specific materials, colors and shapes.
Most of these early beads came from
the glass factories of Murano near Venice Italy and a few came from France and
the Netherlands. Venetian beads had softer colors than the brighter glass beads
made in Bohemia (Czech Republic) that were introduced to the American Indians
in the 19th Century. Both the new colors and the more uniform size of the Czech
beads appealed to Native American beaders. This resulted in a decline in the
use of Venetian beads.
Because the dominant European
culture and religion discouraged traditional practices and beliefs, Native
Americans began to incorporate traditional concepts into their beadwork. For
example, Arctic tribes transformed tattoo patterns into elaborately beaded
parkas; Northeast tribes replicated their wampum designs; across the Great
Plains certain colors and patterns came to have significant meanings.
As glass beads spread across North America, each tribe used them to express their own patterns and traditions. Today, bead artists borrow beading techniques and patterns from each other. Many create new beadwork patterns based on tribal culture and traditions. Many examples of old style beadwork can be found in museums. While many contemporary designs can be found on ceremonial regalia adorned on traditional dancers attending pow wows today.
Photography by: Marilyn Angel Wynn/Nativestock.com
Hi, A very interesting story , where can one find information on purchasing beadwork and information on when pow-wows are being held as I am planning a trip to the U.S. and would love to attend one, Happy Trails from Australia.
Posted by: Tony Wells | January 10, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Enjoy your trip to the US. Most pow wows are during the summer months of July and August depending on where you are traveling. There are many vendors at the pow wows with some beadwork which generally have the best prices available. You can also find beadwork for sale at Native American trading posts and museum gift shops.
I sometimes will purchase a beaded item on E-Bay.
Good luck and again enjoy your trip to Indian Country
Posted by: Angel Wynn | January 10, 2010 at 12:15 PM
The moccasins look nice and the beads on their attire really are something. Its nice to know that there are still people like them that exist.
Posted by: Kindle | January 27, 2010 at 02:28 AM
Really love looking at native Americans especially their clothes and accessories. Its colorful and is pleasing to the eyes.
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The thing that caught my attention is the accessories they wear. Its colorful and nice.
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I had a friend in Texas who's ancestors were American natives. He is proud to be there descendant.
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Thank you for explaining a little about beadwork. Your photographs are beautiful - so many memorable images. I especially like the Native American Medicine collection since it shows both modern and traditional medicine and the continuity of care.
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