The theme of the exhibit was the use of beads and beadwork in marriage traditions around the world.

The first thing you see when you approach the gallery is this stunning red beaded dress from India. It is a modern construction, decorated with beads and embroidery.

Details to come.

JDA.

This is the bodice of the red dress.

JDA.

This is gorgeous. I can't wait to see the rest of your photo essay. Take your time... anticipation is a good thing sometimes.

This is the lower front panel of the red dress.

[I have just had a household emergency that I need to take care of. Plus, my Jpegs are being rejected for being too large. So, I will continue this later tonight when I'll have time to compress the images a bit more.]

JDA.

This is a beaded Indian sari, made for a marriage ceremony. It is truly beautiful work. This is shown to the left of the previous dress.

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This is the part that diagonally crosses the breast, and goes to the back.

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The mannequin holds the end of the sari cloth in one hand.

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The third dress is from ca. 1949, and is pink satin. I guess it was used in a wedding party, but I didn't hear any actual context information about it, except that it's a Fontana from Italy. The beadwork is primarily down the two rear panels, with some details at the shoulders--as we'll see next.

JDA.

Here's a detail of a back panel, showing the complicated and original beadwork.

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This is the front shoulder.

JDA.

To the right, when you enter the gallery, we see this view. The closest case contains gilded silver pieces from Afghanistan.

On this side of the case, several pendants and one of a pair of cuffs is shown. These are typical of married women of the Turkoman tribes in Afghanistan. The silver is often also gilded, and typically set with Indian carnelian stones (less often, red glass).

On the reverse side of the same case, we can see this display of three necklaces..., except the coral constructions are not really necklaces, but rather are headdress ornaments. (They don't hang around the neck, but from the elaborate head gear worn by married women). These nearly always include Mediterranean coral, black glass beads (local or imported, and less often green), and nice silver pieces (possibly from India as much as local products).

The necklace on the right is composed from large seedbeads, made into a netted construction. This is said to come from Baluchistan. Afghan women also make flat bibs, where the beads are worked similarly.

JDA.

Also to the right, but in the center of the room, there's a sitting area, where people can rest a minute and talk.

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This case has a variety of ornaments from Borneo and/or kalimantan. Some of the rare necklaces include what are called "lukut selakat" beads—that are reputed to be worth $1000 each. Note also the white conus shell disks. The coral necklace in the left foreground, from Sumatra, includes elaborate metal beads called "mununkaub."

This case holds Hill Tribe necklaces, including the really nice beadwork collar from Nagaland, that is probably Konyak. The necklace of white chank shell disks in the lower right is unusual because the shell pieces are square and not circular. It was worn by an Ao woman.

JDA.

This huge construction is from the Bontoc women of the Philippines, and made from conus shells, and ivory rings, strung onto hand-loomed cloth. It is actually a belt.

Note the tiny basket-woven hat with large mother-of-pearl drops (also worn as earrings and see on wedding necklaces worn by men and women).

JDA

Among the rarest and most collectible ancient beads are those that were owned by the Paiwan people of Formosa (Taiwan). In this case, we can see four different necklaces of these hierloom beads (combined with nice Chinese enamel elements, that are nontraditional). A curious thing about these beads is that some are made from powderglass (which is statistically unusual outside of Africa and Europe). The greenish beads in the lower left are consistent with Middle Eastern beads recovered now in Egypt and Israel, and dating from ca. 600 BCE. (These are often sold as being "Roman," though they are actually OLDER than the Roman Period.)

The white neckalce in the center is from Nepal, and is typical of signifying jewelry worn by married women—consisting of a "tilari" (a bead that appears to be seven beads in a row, usually gilded silver), strung on multiple strands of seedbeads. In this instance, the seedbeads are white. They could easily be red, green, or any number of colors.

JDA

To the left of the entryway, we see this view.

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The objects in these cases come from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Apparently I spaced-out shooting these things. Oye!

JDA.

I know it's called "Myanmar" nowadays. But did you know that many of the people in this country would like to return to the old name? They don't mind saying "Burma," and neither do I....

Here's a case holding two Burmese objects: a silver necklace and a beaded cloth.

JDA.

This silver necklace from Burma is very elaborate in its construction. It's easy to compare it to pieces made in tribal Thailand, as well as India, Afghanistan, and even Arabia.

JDA

This cloth looks something like a breech cloth or shawl, but I didn't read its description carefully. It is hand-loomed, and embroidered with silver ornaments. Again, it is, in part, comparable to items from Thailand and Nagaland.

Unless I am moved to post something else (and I may), this is the end for now.

I want to acknowledge the participation of The Bead Museum for many of the objects shown, as well as my good friend Naomi Lindstrom, who increased the delight of viewers with her additions and presence at the event.

Jamey

I almost forgot these two Ndebele beadwork pieces, from South Africa.

JDA.

Hope you like it Jamey

I will show this to my friend Valerie Hector, who is busy studying Chinese beadwork. Can you tell us anything about the piece? It's origin, etc.?

Jamey

Jamey,
Thank you for taking the time to give us a tour of the show, with such a varied collection. Was the event pretty well attended? I wonder if Denver University is considering doing a bead event annually? Did attendees bring some superb items for id?

Hi Joyce,

Thanks for your comments. I'm glad a few of you found this entertaining.

The day of the event there were about 85 people registered. There was some confusion, that because of the classes (that one HAD to register for in advance), there was a perception that unless you preregistered you might not get in--which was not the case at all. And, of course, that morning it snowed--which may have kept some people away.

But attendance was good, and everyone was enthusiastic. I met a woman who makes unusual beads from silk fabric, that I thought were quite original. She was kind enough to give me a sample of her work, that I will pass to The Bead Museum. The appraisal sessions were good, but there was one item that overwhelmed anything else. A goldsmith showed me an amber amulet she has had for 40 years, that was received as a gift. It's from the Middle East, but in style it's like an ancient Baltic sun amulet. I was knocked over! It has to be from somewhere between ca. 3000 BCE and 10,000 BCE. I will be writing about this at my Amber Group, in a few days.

There's talk of having this event again next year. I hope they do. It was a lot of fun, and showed the University in a good light. Plus, I got to be on morning TV, talking about it (!).

Jamey