Post by blackcrowheart on Jan 21, 2008 10:47:33 GMT -5
NativeTech: Native American Technology and Art NATIVE AMERICAN BEADWORK
Bead Weaving Techniques and Analysis
Beads are perhaps one of the earliest forms of Native American art. Beads
are by their nature, intended to be strung on cord and various techniques have
developed and evolved over the millennia in the eastern Woodlands. Some
methods of stringing beads are similar to those used in textile and basket
weaving. Beadweaving shares many technical traits with woven mats and twined
baskets, and it may have developed alongside these other industries.
Woven Beadwork consists of two things: beads and string. The string used can
range from animal proteins such as twisted sinew or hide thong to twisted
cord from numerous plants, bark and roots. Twisted cordage needed to be made
from otherwise short fibers for beadweaving, as it requires a string long
enough to go through a great length of beads. Dogbane stalks, basswood bark and
cedar bark or roots are commonly made into cord for beadweaving. Though
European threads were available during early contact, Natives continued to use their
own cordage, which was also deemed of superior quality by Europeans.
www.nativetech.org/beadweav/bweav.html
Bead Weaving Techniques and Analysis
Beads are perhaps one of the earliest forms of Native American art. Beads
are by their nature, intended to be strung on cord and various techniques have
developed and evolved over the millennia in the eastern Woodlands. Some
methods of stringing beads are similar to those used in textile and basket
weaving. Beadweaving shares many technical traits with woven mats and twined
baskets, and it may have developed alongside these other industries.
Woven Beadwork consists of two things: beads and string. The string used can
range from animal proteins such as twisted sinew or hide thong to twisted
cord from numerous plants, bark and roots. Twisted cordage needed to be made
from otherwise short fibers for beadweaving, as it requires a string long
enough to go through a great length of beads. Dogbane stalks, basswood bark and
cedar bark or roots are commonly made into cord for beadweaving. Though
European threads were available during early contact, Natives continued to use their
own cordage, which was also deemed of superior quality by Europeans.
www.nativetech.org/beadweav/bweav.html