| Original Message: I Tend To Agree! |
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Dear Gabriel, I have said here, many times, that the dividing line between ancient and modern glassmaking and glassworking is at CE 1400. This date represents the time that the Near Eastern glassworks were destroyed by Tamerlane, and when Venice was poised to exploit that market with her new products. Having said this, I was immediately criticized for implying that there was a difference in the time frame between "ancient glass" and "modern glass," while also saying that in a non-glass context the date I agree with for them to be "ancient" is 1,000 years ago. I don't think this is a big leap—that, depending on the material, and given the L O N G history of beadmaking and of the use of glass, these issues are not hard to sort out. The divisions we are discussing are for BEADS, not just GLASS BEADS. Although the case is made (and I agree) that glass is the "most important bead material," it is not the only bead material. Added to that, the problem of dating beads is FOUNDED on the fact that practically no beads can really be finely dated. LOTS of styles, types, of certain materials, and various origins, were made over a long period. I happen to believe in CUSPS. The idea that there is a comfortable range on either side of a given date, into which a bead might belong. For instance, if I say a beads is "about 1,000 years old," I am comfortable with saying or accepting that it might range from 1200 years ago to 800 years ago. Or whatever the appropriate cusp may be. I agree that Islamic Period glass beads are "ancient" beads—and I have never said otherwise. In fact, I am the PRIME motivator in the recognition of the contribution of beadmaking from this period. Prior to my personal work in this arena, the typical presentation of these beads suggested they were "Roman"—making them about 1,000 year's too early. I have worked for twenty-three years to change this perception and misrepresentation, beginning with what I still regard as the correct timeframe for beads from West Africa that I maintain are Islamic, but that are still routinely misrepresented as "Roman" (that began in the mid-1980s). There can be no doubt that the tradition of Islamic beadmaking extends back into Roman times, and no doubt that this is an ancient tradition. However, it is much less than accurate to call it a "Roman tradition"—because this region is the HOME of glassworking, and it's the Romans who merely exploited it rather than devised it. I hope this clarifies my position. I have said all of this MANY times. Be well. Jamey All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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