European and Asian Beads
A Brief Introduction
To Beads of Europe and Asia:
Their History and Manufacture
Note: Not all described/ pictured beads are available. Collectible beads are often named after the area in which they are best known for having been traded in. For example, the highly decorative glass "African" beads were used in Africa as
money for every day items, but they were also traded for expensive commodities including land and slaves. Actually manufactured in Venice, they were also traded in other places, including the western hemisphere.
"EYE" BEADS
Beads depicting eyes have been made for thousands of years and have been used in various cultures. They all have basically the same meaning.
The "Thousand Eye" or "Evil Eye" beads shown here (diameter = 10mm) and have been a staple trade item since the middle of the 1800's. The "eye" bead is a world-wide design and is worn to ward off evil. Psychologists theorize that the "function" of these beads derives from the common human characteristic of being unable to lie or do harm to others while looking them in the eye. These (Venetian) beads are common and are on the lower ring of collectibles.
Roman Eye: Made in the Rumanian colony before and during the time of Christ, the eyes are a design feature to ward off evil. Today, these beads are found mostly in ancient middens.
Asia
Indus River: These batik carnelian beads are listed in the "History of Beads" from 2,500 bc.
The process of design has just recently been understood. Found (with some difficulty) today in northern India, Nepal and Tibet.
Our Catalog of European and Asian Beads
Rome and India
CREDIT CARD ORDERS ACCEPTED
Prices updated on 16 December 2001
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| Cat. # | Bead name/origin | Bead Description | Bead Size (mm) | Strand length (inches) | Price (US$) per strand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-1 | Roman-Romanian colony | Large eye beads | 15-20 mm | 34 in. | 2,400.00 |
| R-2 | Roman glass | small, plain greenish glass | 4 mm +/- | 24 in. | 35.00 |
| R-3 | Roman glass | medium, plain greenish glass | 4-9 mm, graduated | 24 in. | 50.00 |
| AS-1 | Indus River | batik cornelian, 2,500 bc | varied | 20 in. | 1,500.00 |