Glass Beads Collection

A Pokot man wearing typical beaded ornaments of his tribe. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language. Kenya

Two young Pokot girls wearing traditional ornaments that denote their unmarried status. Their broad belts are made with the metacarpus and metatarsal bones of dikdiks interspersed with beads. Kenya

A Pokot warrior wearing a cheetah skin jumps high in the air surrounded by young women to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

Orpheus Charming the Animals, England, first half 17th century. Creator: Unknown
Orpheus Charming the Animals, England, first half 17th century

Chasuble, France, c. 1700. Creator: Unknown
Chasuble, France, c. 1700

Insertion, Italy, c. 1600. Creator: Unknown
Insertion, Italy, c. 1600

Border, Italy, Early 17th century. Creator: Unknown
Border, Italy, Early 17th century

Picture Depicting Adam and Eve (Needlework), England, 17th century. Creator: Unknown
Picture Depicting Adam and Eve (Needlework), England, 17th century. Clothed Adam and Eve, fruit, flowers, animals and birds

Fragment (Border), Italy, 16th century. Creator: Unknown
Fragment (Border), Italy, 16th century

Childs Cap, Europe, 19th century. Creator: Unknown
Childs Cap, Europe, 19th century

Antiquities recently added to the British Museum (engraving)
2772688 Antiquities recently added to the British Museum (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Antiquities recently added to the British Museum)

Pipe Bag, c. 1870. Creator: Unknown
Pipe Bag, c. 1870

Hide Shirt, c. 1890. Creator: Unknown
Hide Shirt, c. 1890. Scalp shirts are among the most spectacular garmets produced by the Plains Indians. Lakota Sioux scalp shirts were often painted blue or green on the upper half

Basket, c 1875- 1917. Creator: Unknown
Basket, c 1875- 1917

Awl Case, c. 1890. Creator: Unknown
Awl Case, c. 1890

Bandolier (Shoulder) Bag, 1880s?. Creator: Unknown
Bandolier (Shoulder) Bag, 1880s?. Inspired perhaps by British ammunition pouches, bandolier bags evolved from smaller native bags, similar to another in this case, to become one of the flashiest

Cuff, late 1800s. Creator: Unknown
Cuff, late 1800s. In the 1800s, native peoples began to use European fabrics to fashion fine formal garments; they favored sturdy cloth, such as velvet and wool broadcloth

Merchants Glass Beads Trinkets Henri Bechard
Merchants of Glass Beads and Trinkets; Henri Bechard (French, active Cairo, Egypt 1869 - 1880s); Egypt; about 1875; Albumen silver print

Beaded Bag floral motif 19th century America
Beaded Bag (floral motif), 19th century. America, 19th century. Glass beads, silk? lining; average: 14 x 14 cm (5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.)

Beaded Bag 19th century America Glass beads cotton
Beaded Bag, 19th century. America, 19th century. Glass beads, cotton? lining; average: 14 x 14 cm (5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.)

Blanket Strip 1900 America Native North American
Blanket Strip, c. 1900. America, Native North American, Plains, Tsitsistas (Cheyenne) people, Post-Contact. Native-tanned hide, glass beads, metal beads

Pipe Bag 1870 America Native North American Plains
Pipe Bag, c. 1870. America, Native North American, Plains, Tsitsistas (Cheyenne) people, Post-Contact. Native-tanned hide with yellow pigment, glass beads, red trade cloth, tin cones

Awl Case 1890 America Native North American Plains
Awl Case, c. 1890. America, Native North American, Plains, Gaigwu (Kiowa) people, Post-Contact. Native-tanned hide, glass beads, cotton thread; overall: 33.7 cm (13 1/4 in.)

Leopard Caryatid Stool 1800s Equatorial Africa
Leopard Caryatid Stool, possibly 1800s. Equatorial Africa, Cameroon, Bandjoun kingdom, Bamileke, possibly 19th century. Wood, cotton

An old Turkana woman wearing all the finery of her tribe. In a hole pierced below her lower lip, she wears an ornament beautifully made from twisted strands of copper wire

A Dassanech man with a shock of hair.; The Omo Delta of southwest Ethiopia is one of the least accessible and least developed parts of East Africa

Towards the conclusion of a Ngetunogh ceremony, an initiate must put on his mothers jewellery for a day before removing the wild sisal face mask he has worn for 2-3 months

During a Ngetunogh ceremony, the mother of a Pokot initiate sings and dances holding high the cowhorn container she used to smear fat over the masks of her son and other boys as a blessing

During a Ngetunogh ceremony, the mothers of Pokot initiates sing and dance holding high the cowhorn containers they used to smear fat over the masks of their sons as a blessing

A striking old Pokot woman wearing the traditional beaded ornaments of her tribe which denote her married status. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A Pokot woman wearing the traditional beaded ornaments of her tribe which denote her married status. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

The ornaments of a Pokot warrior including a ring of goat skin which would have been slaughtered for a ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

Pokot men, women and girls dancing to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A Pokot woman in traditional attire with patterned cicatrices on her back attends an Atelo ceremony. Her broad belt is made with the metacarpus and metatarsal bones of dikdiks interspersed with beads

Pokot women and girls dancing to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A Pokot woman in traditional attire dances to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. Her broad belt is made with the metacarpus and metatarsal bones of dikdiks interspersed with beads

Pokot men and women dancing to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

An old Pokot woman dancing during an Atelo ceremony. The cow horn container usually contains animal fat

Jovial Pokot women celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

Pokot women wearing traditional beaded ornaments and brass earrings denoting their married status. celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A Pokot warrior wearing a leopard skin jumps high in the air surrounded by women to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

Traders offer a large variety of beads for sale in an open-fronted market stall in Omdurman

Beads for sale, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

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Glass beads have a rich history and cultural significance, as seen in the vibrant adornments worn by the Pokot tribe. These pastoralists from Southern Nilotic speak volumes through their traditional beaded ornaments, showcasing their unique identity. A Pokot man proudly displays his heritage, donning these intricate accessories that reflect his tribal roots. In another celebration of tradition, a Pokot warrior leaps gracefully into the air while encircled by young women during an Atelo ceremony. The cheetah skin he wears symbolizes strength and agility, complementing the beauty adorning his attire. Not only do glass beads hold importance within indigenous cultures like the Pokot's, but they also find themselves embedded in various art forms across different regions and eras. An intriguing 17th-century English artwork titled "Orpheus Charming the Animals" depicts enchantment brought to life through delicate beadwork. Similarly, French craftsmanship shines through a stunning chasuble from around 1700 adorned with exquisite glass bead embellishments. Traveling further back in time to Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries reveals more captivating uses of glass beads. Intricate insertions and borders created by unknown artisans showcase their mastery over this medium – transforming fabric into works of art that transcend time. Even religious narratives were beautifully captured using needlework techniques incorporating glass beads; an anonymous artist skillfully depicted Adam and Eve in seventeenth-century England using this delicate craft. The versatility extends beyond clothing or decorative pieces; it even finds its way into everyday objects such as pipe bags or children's caps throughout European history – adding a touch of elegance to functional items. These antiquities recently added to the British Museum serve as tangible reminders of our shared human heritage – artifacts lovingly crafted by unknown hands now preserved for generations to come. From tribal traditions to artistic expressions spanning centuries, one thing remains clear: Glass beads possess an enduring allure that transcends time, cultures, and borders.