Quantum Leaps, Beadwork Valerie Hector Quantum Leaps, Beadwork Valerie Hector

Inventing Bead Polyhedra

Chinese beaders of centuries past gave the world a fantastic invention: by rendering geometric structures in beads. In this article, beading historian Valerie Hector discusses an early example of such a Chinese beaded bead made during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

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When did Bead Netting Begin?

When did bead netting begin? Probably, in ancient Egypt by about 2400 BC. In this article, beadwork historian Valerie Hector shows an ancient beaded dress featuring two ancient beading techniques: ladder stitch and open diamond netting. The ancient Egyptians not only used both techniques in a single piece - they mastered the art of bead contouring, shaping the dress in figure-flattering ways.

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How did ancient bead stringers keep their bead strands aligned?

How did ancient bead stringers align strands of beads? With spacer plates made of carved bone or pure gold. In this article, beadwork historian Valerie Hector shows an example of spacer plate stringing in a man’s beaded girdle dating to ca. 4000 BC in ancient Egypt - a girdle now housed in the British Museum.

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Beadwork, Quantum Leaps Valerie Hector Beadwork, Quantum Leaps Valerie Hector

Embedding Beads In a Textile Structure

What techniques were beaders using in 20,000 BC? Beadwork historian Valerie Hector investigates a man’s densely beaded hat, found in a cave along ancient Italy’s Ligurian coast. The hat was heavily encrusted with sea shell beads. What beading technique was used to connect them - bead netting, bead plaiting, or something else?

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Beadwork, Quantum Leaps Valerie Hector Beadwork, Quantum Leaps Valerie Hector

Quantum Leaps in the Field of Beadwork since ca. 30,000 BCE

Valerie begins a series of posts devoted to major advances in the field of beadwork that she thinks of as “quantum leaps” or game-changing advances. Quantum Leap #1 might well be the development of bead embroidery. The earliest surviving evidence - from ca. 26,000 BC - was found at an archaeological site in Sungir, a town not far from Moscow. Beading historian Valerie Hector discusses this amazing find.

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