BEADWORK

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BEADWORK
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Beadwork

• The Indigenous peoples of the Americas made
  beadwork for centuries prior to the arrival of
  Europeans in North America.

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The First Beads

• Seeds, beans and berries were most likely the
  first beads used, then shells in their natural
  state.
• Later beads of shell and stone ground and drilled
  by hand.

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Tool Use

• One of the Aboriginal tools which was used for
  drilling, called dawihai, was made from a shaft
  of wood two feet (61 centimetres) long and half
  an inch (1.27 centimetres) in diameter at the
  middle.
• This dawihai could be twirled between the palm
  of ones hand. The drill point was made of jasper
  or flint and fastened to the shaft.

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Different Styles and Variety of Beads

• Depending on the region and nation different
  materials were used for beading.
• Rainbow colored abalone shells from the Pacific.
• Opaque glass beads.
• Exposure to European glass beads in the
  seventeenth century gave the indigenous artists a
  new material for their beadwork.

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Geometric Beadwork
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Different Nations had Different Styles.

• The Dakota used geometrical patterns almost
  excusively, while the Winnebago and Nez Perces
  people are noted for their animal and flower
  patterns.

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The Flower Beadwork People

• The Dakota and Cree people referred to the Red
  River Métis as the Flower Beadwork People.
• That Métis beadwork was characterized by its
  decorative patterns and floral designs and was
  often found on their personal items such as
  moccasins, gloves and saddle bags.

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Beadwork example
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European Influence

• The European floral patterns were much different
  than the Métis designs. Girls in the mission
  schools of New France (current day Quebec) worked
  with European materials which included velvet,
  wool, glass, and metal beads

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Beads Decorated

• Glass beads were used to decorate clothing,
  vessels, tools, and weapons. Seed beads adorned
  bags, moccasins, hair ties, and other garments.

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Beadwork on moccasins
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Beading Requires

• Artists require design skills, creativity,
  patience and fine motor skills to work with small
  beads.

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Beadwork example
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References

• White, Mary. How to Do Beadwork. New York
  Dover Publications, 1972. Print.
• http//www.museum.state.il.us/ismdepts/anthro/bea
  ds/loom_weaving_lesson.html
• http//www.metismuseum.ca/exhibits/expressions/