Beadwork: A World Guide - Hardcover

French mourning wreaths; Ukrainian easter eggs; Norwegian bodices; Chinese slippers; Pakistani hair tassels; Egyptian belly-dancing outfits; Central Asian tent decorations; Maasai wedding dresses; Xhosa neckpieces; Athabaskan shot pouches and Sioux moccasins . . . from Greenland to Bali, beadwork from all around the world is illustrated and its history revealed in this book.
After an introduction and an in-depth survey of bead manufacturing centers in Europe and Asia, Beadwork is organized into five principal sections, with over forty topics in all. Each of four main regional sections - Africa; the Americas; Asia, Oceania and the Arabian Gulf; and Europe - outlines the history and trade routes of beads in the area, with an accompanying map, before examining what has been produced in detail. A fifth section surveys construction and techniques, from brick stitch and herringbone weave to lazy stitch and three-dimensional structures.
With over six hundred illustrations, information on collecting and conserving beadwork, and on where to see public collections, this is the first survey to reveal the wealth and diversity of traditional beadwork from around the world. The result will inspire beadworkers, collectors and designers, and anyone interested in art, craft, and fashion.

Caroline Crabtree trained as an embroiderer in the UK and is the author of World Embroidery.

Pam Stallebrass studied Fine Arts at the University of Natal, South Africa. She is the author of The Creative Guide to Fabric Screen Printing.