| Beads are amongst the oldest human art and | | | | these materials. They can be extremely colourful |
| technology, dating back 30,000 years. They have | | | | and bright, making them fashionable and popular in |
| been dated back to at least Roman times. | | | | modern times for all cultures. |
| Perhaps the earliest glass-like beads were | | | | There are many types of beads and all are |
| Egyptian faience beads, a form of clay with a | | | | named according to the way they are made, |
| self-forming vitreous coating. | | | | including wound, drawn, moulded,lampwork, |
| Glass beads are usually categorized by the | | | | Dichroic, furnace and lead crystal. |
| method used to manipulate the glass. Most fall into | | | | The Types of glass used to construct these |
| three main categories: wound, drawn, and | | | | include rod, sheet, soda lime, lead, and borosilicate. |
| moulded. There are composites, such as millefiori, | | | | The material chosen often depends on the |
| where cross-sections of a drawn glass cane are | | | | hardness, colour, durability, and size required. |
| applied to a wound glass core. A very minor | | | | Nowadays the Czech Republic is a well-known and |
| industry in blown glass beads also existed in 19th | | | | reputable producer of these object. Both online |
| century Venice and France. | | | | and in stores worldwide, Czech glass beads will be |
| It is believed that the Egyptians first used faience | | | | sold for a much high price on average than most |
| (a glazed fused quartz composite) but later | | | | other types of glass beads. These Czech pieces |
| developed the core, wound and mosaic methods | | | | are often used in necklaces and bracelets and are |
| of using glass to make beads and other | | | | sold in renowned jewellers across the globe. The |
| decorations. They were the first culture to have | | | | Czech's have a reputation for creating beautiful |
| glass-making guilds. | | | | yet durable glass beads consistently. |
| Glass beads, however, were not limited to the | | | | Many people enjoy making their own jewellery . |
| Egyptians in ancient times. There have been glass | | | | There are even stores where one can pay to |
| beads found in archaeological sites dated between | | | | make their own jewellery with glass beads that |
| 2,000BC and 10AD in both Austria and | | | | are provided for them. This has become a popular |
| Switzerland. | | | | hobby for many people and has increased the |
| In modern times, they have become a popular | | | | recognition of glass beads across the world. In |
| form of jewellery, especially in African cultures | | | | additon , Lampwork and other artictic craftybeads |
| with necklaces,bracelets, and anklets made of | | | | are back in vogue on the jewellery ciruit. |