The three beads seen here were selected and photographed together because they demonstrate an important consideration in technical Indonesian beadmaking.

Twenty-six years ago, when I first examined Indonesian jatim, I deduced their sequence of manufacture—and promoted the unexpected idea that they were derived from decorated canes that had been constricted into beads (via the "hot-pinched" method). This suggestion was received with considerable skepticism, even though it accounts for the look of the ancient beads, when no other synthesis did that.

In order to make authentic-looking beads, Indonesian beadmakers have had to develop beadmaking strategies that include and incorporate constriction practices into their beads. And with these three speciemns, we can see that—in fact—they do make constricted beads. And rather attractive ones. As near as I have been able to determine, this approach in Java has only been practiced over the previous ten years, or so. Prior to that time, the beads were basically wound, and had trailed decorations—and were not very authentic-looking.

The final photo of this series shows Mr. Untoro's small drawn glass beads, made to copy ancient Indo-Pacific beads. (I will remark on Russ's question about the reuse of old beads, at the end of this photo essay—as well as other topics of interest.)

JDA.

JDA.