| I have a theory that goes like this. If the oldest | | | | tiny shells on the smallest of the Hawaiian Islands. |
| profession in the world is the realm of the (ahem) | | | | This type of bead was transformed by a more |
| hired lady, then what would be the second oldest | | | | advanced method. Bead makers began shaping |
| profession? Well, considering she had to be paid I | | | | beads into thin circles, called heishi. Stacked |
| would assume it is bead making. | | | | together these create a brilliant shell necklace. |
| The oldest found piece of jewelry featured two | | | | Again, this is still a common form of beaded |
| snail shells that someone put a hole through and | | | | jewelry. |
| then ran a strip of leather through. The maker | | | | Clay and ceramic beads, essentially mud that has |
| hung it around his or her neck and a fashion trend | | | | been shaped and baked, then decorated, has |
| was born (still in use by the surfer/beatnik crowd, | | | | been used for thousands of years. Not as old as |
| by the way). This particular piece of jewelry is | | | | using shell, but still one of the oldest methods. This |
| thought to be 100,000 years old. | | | | method was used from Egypt to Greece and |
| Imagine! 100,000 years ago somebody wanted to | | | | Rome, Africa, Europe and Africa. Egyptian scarab |
| adorn themselves with beads, just like we do | | | | beads are still a very popular type of bead in the |
| today. | | | | Middle East. These beads are fashioned to look |
| And the trend has grown. Beads have been in | | | | like the scarab beatle, then baked and painted. |
| found in all regions of the world accompanying all | | | | Bead makers began using glass well over a |
| of man's achievements and stages in his rise from | | | | thousand years ago. They mixed glass sand with |
| the primordial ooze. They have been found in | | | | dyes to create stunning colors, then first melted |
| ancient Egyptian burials and in Anasazi cave | | | | the glass and either cast beads in clay or sand |
| dwelling in the Southwestern United States. The | | | | casts, or they melted the glass into rods and then |
| early Britons wore beads around their necks, as | | | | melted those into formed beads, wrapping the |
| did remote tribes people in Africa. | | | | rods around a wire. Perhaps the highest forms of |
| They have been used as currency to trade for | | | | glass beads were those made in Venice hundreds |
| people (as in Africa) and for land (as in | | | | of years ago. Artisans made millifiore beads using |
| Manhattan). They have been and still are prized | | | | colorful glass rods that resembled flowers. By |
| for their beauty and intricacy. Even today, | | | | melting these together into a mosaic they would |
| contemporary and antique beads are considered | | | | make brilliant and intricate designs. These beads |
| valuable, collectible, and are worth thousands of | | | | were traded all over the world, and found their |
| dollars. | | | | way to Africa, the Americas and throughout the |
| The oldest forms of beads were the type | | | | Middle East. |
| uncovered in North Africa, the snail shell beads. | | | | Bead making is a high art form, and artisans still |
| Seashells were commonly used by primitive | | | | create stunning works of art as has been done |
| jewelry makers because of their natural beauty | | | | for hundreds of years. The next time you buy a |
| and the ease with which they could be | | | | beaded bracelet or necklace, think about all the |
| transformed into an amulet or bead. This method | | | | history and tradition in the second oldest |
| is still used, as in the Ni'ihua jewelry made with | | | | profession! |