Beads From South Africa
Posted by Doug in Travel at 12:02 pm The geometric designs of South African bead work are simply amazing! Stunning colors along with seemingly endless design patterns. I was amazed at all the art work avail for sale and show in the 5 star hotels lobby gift shops. Beads have been around for ever, well at least 30,000 years. Glass manufacturing techniques in the mid 1800′s increased the volume of beads available tremendously. Venitian glass factories produced in the millions of pounds of beads annualy for trade on the African continent. From the beginning of time bead production has been a part of every society. The adornment communicating class, wealth, occupation and religion. An important evaloution was the use of the beads for prayer and ritual. Throughout the world malas or prayer beads were strung for the clergy and lay people alike. With the rich and long history these beads have made their way around the world. Representing the very first money these objets were traded far and wide, many times going to places unknown and unintended by the creator. Much of this trading took place on the African continent giving them a rich history and the presence of beads made from throughout the world. Today beads are manufactured from every material known, paper, metals, plastics, fibers, glass, stone, wood, ceramic, clay and bone just to mention a few. Beads are made everywhere, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Japan, USA, China, Mexico and on. New techniques in cutting with lasers offer an endless variety of shapes and designs that can be manufactured with values from nearly nothing to priceless. With new process coming along the endless desire for adornment the evolution of beads will not end as long as there are people to enjoy them.
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