Valerie Hector: The Art of Beadwork: Historic Inspiration, Contemporary Design - Book Review

Valerie Hector's The Art of Beadwork: Historic Inspiration, Contemporary Design (ISBN 0-8320-0307-8) is an interesting combination of the historical and cultural analysis of various beadmaking traditions and the presentation of works by modern designers who were inspired by these traditions.

There are numerous books on contemporary bead designs, as well as many histories of beadmaking (which may go back as much as 75,000 years, see http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news
/2004/04/0415_040415_oldestjewelry.html

The book looks at a number of ethnic and historical beadwork traditions:

  • Han Beadwork (Mainland China)
  • Ancient Japanese Beadwork
  • Kathi Beadwork (Guajarat State, India)
  • Sa'dan Toraja Beadwork (Sulawesi, Indonesia)
  • Straits Chinese Beadwork (Penang, Malaysia)
  • Kenyah Beadwork (Indonesian/Malaysian Borneo)
  • Ambai Island Beadwork (Indonesian New Guniea)
  • Ancient Egyptian Beadwork
  • Yoruba Beadwork (Nigeria)
  • Maasai Beadwork (Kenya)
  • Dinka Beadwork (Sudan)
  • Xhosa Beadwork (South Africa)
  • Ndebele Beadwork (South Africa)
  • Msinga (Zulu) Beadwork (South Africa)
  • Seventeenth Century English Beadwork
  • J. M. van Selow Beadwork (1760s Germany)
  • Wiener Werkst