About Glass Beads

Glass beads are as old as glass-making itself. They are also one of the most versatile and popular types of beads since they can be created in unlimited colors, shapes and sizes. From individually created lampwork beads to mass produced simple round beads, here are a few things you might not already know about glass beads.

Types

Besides shapes and colors, there are a number of special types of glass beads. These include Murano, or Venetian beads, lampwork, millefiori, fused glass and furnace glass beads..
Murano or Venetian beads are hand-made only in Italy using Moretti glass. Beads made in other countries using the same techniques are not real Murano or Venetian beads. Lampwork is a method of crafting glass beads and other items using a small hand torch and canes of glass. Real lampwork beads are always handmade, although there are many factory produced lampwork imitations. Millefiori are glass beads made from rods of different colored glass that have been layered together to create a flower-like pattern. Fused beads are made using a method similar to creating stained glass, where thin sheets of glass are fused together to form a bead. Furnace glass beads are made by dipping a mandrel into molten glass prepared in a furnace. The bead is shaped and then knocked off the mandrel.

History

Man has been creating glass beads since at least 2340 B.C., and probably even earlier since beads from that time required a fair amount of skill to create. Many researchers believe that Egyptians first invented many of the techniques still used today to create glass beads, but over time the skills were lost and rediscovered by other cultures. Bead-making techniques are thought to have spread from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, where improved techniques were implemented. For a time after that, Roman occupied Syria was the premier site for glass bead-making. Venice also was an important site of bead crafting. In 1292, Italy's glass production was moved to Murano island, and both Venice and Murano remain important glass bead production sites.

Significance

Glass beads provide important clues to archaeologists and anthropologists studying ancient cultures. Since the beads are often preserved when other arts of the time have been lost, they reveal information about technology, trading practices, art forms and cultural differences. Beads also played an important role in worldwide economics. Even as recently as 100 years ago, they were used like currency to trade for goods, food, supplies and other items. Some cultures also produced special glass beads that were believed to protect the wearer.

Warning

When purchasing glass beads, be aware that some beads that are mass produced in third-world countries may contain high levels of lead. They may also be produced in sweat shops or by child labor, which makes it important to determine where the beads are coming from. All beads made of glass should also be properly annealed in a kiln. Beads that are not annealed will break easily.

Identification

It isn't too hard to identify high quality hand-made glass beads from inexpensive mass-produced ones. One of the easiest ways to identify an inexpensive mass-produced bead is to look at the hole. If it is rough, unfinished or very uneven, it is likely mass-produced. Also check any corners crevices or joints. Hand-made quality beads will be polished and finished completely on all corners and edges. Finally, fractures or lines in the glass are usually only found in mass-produced beads. A good bead-maker will not sell a bead that has fractures or lines.