American Indian Beadwork: A Showcase of History and Talent

Beadwork and pottery are a part of American Indian art along with modern photography, fine paintings, and sculptures. These forms of art are featured in the Internet and in your local market with many auctions happening every year.

Beadwork is the most traditional and historical branch of American Indian art. It is practical as well as decorative, utilitarian, and symbolic. It is a very old craft, dating from the oldest ancestors of American Indians. Several materials used in beadwork such as stone, bone, shells, turquoise, and semi-precious stones are still made the same way as it was made many years ago.

One of the most popular pieces of regional trade importance is the sea shell beads. They have been around for thousands of years. The world has seen a lot of American Indian art pieces, from beaded necklaces, belts, and purses.

Oriental factories have replicated modern beadwork for many years now. They import these items at a very cheap price. The top quality of beadwork by the American Indian craftspeople has become a competing factor against the beadwork done by the oriental factories. Because of these fake beads, the natives have lost millions of dollars in eight years during the 1980s.

Animal horn, deer hooves, and turtle shells were the most common sources of beads. They carved the beads out of these things, and they also utilized it to make rattling and tinkling pieces used in dancing. The hunters had necklaces made of bear or wolf claws worn around their neck to identify them with a hunter's prowess. They used steamed bones and seeds to soften them and make them wearable.

The Iroqois League or Haudenosee used white and purple wampum chains for a more practical purpose. These were made out of fresh water clam shells and were used to record sacred ceremonies and songs before and even after the European settlers came.

There were a lot of agreements that were recorded with the use of beadwork chains, and their owners showed value and care for these items. The European settlers thought that their reverence for these materials suggested monetary significance, so they assumed that wampum meant money.

The beads are stringed using an animal sinew that is split into very fine pieces and is then used to attach beads to clothing. Other materials such as strong pant fibers, hide thongs, and nettle were also used.

The Heishii, an ancient bead type made by the Navajos, are one of the most popular beadwork that is still being made today. These necklaces tell a story, using each bead to represent a character.

Beadworks represent thousands of years and they tell many stories about the time when they were created. They tell the story of how these natives travel to different parts of the world, as indicated by ancient shell beads that have been found many miles from the sea.

Today, American Indians have improved their way of making beadwork pieces. They use digital beadwork designs to help them make actual beadwork pieces. They test the designs before they begin making them. Bead working has now become a part of the modern world.

Beadworks are great gifts as personal pieces to be given to family and friends. They are great reminders of memories that you want to be reminded of.