Post on 18-Dec-2015
Clay Beads and Pendants
History and Examples
Clay
• Has traditionally referred to a material composed of fine particles of minerals that is dug from the earth
• Has been broadened in contemporary use to include other substances whose plasticity resembles that of ceramic clay. – Polymer clay - Ceramic clay– Bakers clay
Things to think about when working with clay….
• Sculpting “in the round”
• Design
• Relief
• Texture
• Working in small scale
• Surface treatment
Now for the History…
Some History…
• Clay beads go back centuries, to at least 1000 BC • Clay was abundant and was the province of the poor. • While the wealthy Europeans of the late Roman Empire
wore precious stones and metals, the migratory tribes people adorned themselves with clay.
• Clay beads were produced simultaneously all over the world, including in the Phillippines, Thailand and Peru.
• To this day, Peru, China, Thailand, Greece and India produce a great many ceramic beads.
Some History…
• Beads have been significant for many cultures for eons.
• They've been used as money and worn as talismans • and amulets to bring wisdom and fortune to the
wearer. • Found dating back 38,000 years, beads have been
made from pebbles, shells, teeth, claws, clay, glass and more.
• Glass became an important material in beadmaking with its discovery, around 3400 years ago.
Some Cultural connections• Clay beads have been used in Muslim prayer strands • In Thailand as amulets as well as in jewelry. • When they were introduced into the United States by the first
European settlers, the clay beads were very popular with the Native Americans.
• Clay beads have large holes that could accommodate leather cords so they were used as decoration on horse reins.
• Some nations so prize their clay bead heritage that they protect the simple bead from export. For example, Guatemala has restricted the export of their Mayan ceramic beads.
• They have since been replaced by plastic beads, ceramic beads were the New Orleans Mardi Gras beads of the 1920s.
• Ceramic beads again become popular in the 'hippie days' of the 60s and 70s when people wanted an earthy feel to their beads .
Symbolism
• There are a number of symbols used in the world in beads and other objects, and it’s useful to know the meanings of these.
Some Symbols…
• Spiral – a symbol of being, knowing or becoming.
• Circle – totality, perfection, unity, eternity. A symbol of completeness that can include ideas of permanence and dynamism.
• Eye – occult 3rd eye, or eye of the heart can mean spiritual perception. Sometimes an eye is painted on an object to protect against the evil eye. Blue is a popular color for these.
• Dots – are also called eye beads and were used to protect against the evil eye.