Man Tribal Jewelry

Q: I am in a medieval re-enactment society and am searching for any books or articles on bead embroidery, bead needle work, or bead making of European area in 500-1600 a.d. I do extensive teaching, I do have some resources referring to pictures or methods, but I know there is more out there. We have embroiders, loomers, and lampworkers amost other types... We have many people getting into this, most bead societies in the states only deal in the short 200 years of the US, when you ask about Medieval work, they say" Medieval, like Medieval America?" No. There was no Medieval America. Only Early or Ancient America. Someone out the must know of some publications/books whatever that deal, even in part, with medieval beads and beadwork.

A:Start looking for information on MEDIEVAL JEWELRY , or Medieval Metalsmithing. The beadwork that you are looking for (if there is any) will "unearth" itself as you go along. If any beadwork was done then, I dont think it would be reffered to as such in todays terms. It would still be considered jewelrywork, or part of embellishing a metalsmithed piece. One book in particular is great: The History of Beads by Lois Sherr Dubin. These are some sources to get you started on. I have been doing beadwork for over 20 years now. I also teach it as well. My influences have been African Tribal work, Egyptian, Native American, as well as various historical era's. The most I have seen in Medieval work, is what I have seen on paintings hanging in musuems (I live Close to NYC), or in photos of paintings in art books based on individual artists, or historical time topic. I have been sensative to Medieval work, for it was truly beautiful and very artisitic indeed!!! It seems to be that it was created for people of wealth and status, or clergy...again all basically people of wealth. Jewelry through out many different ethnic backgrounds, represented the owners status in their society, and/or wealth. Most paintings of this Medieval time did not illustrate anyone in poor finacial status, unless the illustration was showing war sceanes, grave illnesses, political or religous events. It seems that if the poor people had any jewelry at all, it would be amulets, or talismans to work an intended purpose, for example good health, or good crop, or financial gain.Which as an interesting observation, the earliest known pieces of "jewelry" was created way-back in "cave man" times to represent fertility. Fertility via childbirth, and fertility via healthy crops. This was their "wealth" then. See Lois Sherr Durbins book for more on that.

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