Beadwork: A World Guide

Rating:
Summary: Finally! The History of Beadwork in Beautiful Form!
Review: I'll start with a quote from the introduction "our aim is to draw attention to objects decorated with, and constructed from, the tiny glass 'seed' beads" (pg 8 introduction). I will attest to the fact that the authors have succeeded in the most magnificent fashion!

Divided into deceptively simple sounding sections, this book will take you on a trip around the world and through history. The six sections are: Bead Manufacturing Centers; Africa; the Americas; Asia, Oceania, and the Arabian Gulf; Europe; and Construction and Techniques. Then each of these sections is divided into the the various countries and regions covered with the broad section heading. There are photographs everywhere - color, black & white, historical, and studio quality. This is a very visual book for a visual medium.

I've always felt as a beader that I am carrying on a tradition that goes back centuries, this book pays homage to the traditions from around the world. It is an incredible resource that belongs on every beader's shelf for inspiration and rememberance of all that has come before. This book will be to beadwork what "The History of Beads" is to beads and bead collectors.

TWO NOTES:
ONE: The section on Construction and Techniques is not meant to teach you how to do a particular type of beadwork, but to give you an idea of what is involved. There are several excellent teaching books available.
TWO: On page 151, there is a set of beaded sleeves from a dress from Western Europe that are absolutely breath-taking.

Rating:
Summary: breathtaking
Review: i've just re-started beading after a hiatus of about ten years, so i am not familiar with recent beading books and can't compare this to any other overviews that might be out there.

however, in and of itself, this is a beautiful, well-illustrated, far-ranging work. africa is well-represented. north AND south american indian work is represented, including the work of the inuit and northwestern nations. there is a section on greenland beadwork, short, but more than i have found yet. asia, india, oceania, the middle and near east and europe have their sections. the final section is a brief but reasonably adequate, description of techniques.

the photos are breathtaking. and dangerous. i have already mentally designed at least five new projects. the only complaint i have is the lack of dating for some of what are probably 19th century postcards and photos and for what may be relatively recent photos.

i think this would be a worthwhile addition to even extensive beading collections.

Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous Overview
Review: This is a wonderful book. It is beautifully photographed with sumptuous examples of beadwork traditions from around the world. The text covers each tradition rather lightly, but the information the authors do provide is solid.

That said, some of the size and proportion choices for the photographs make no sense. Entire garmets will be tiny, while beaded trinkets will be magnified. The most annoying example is the Bagobo shirt on page 137. This garmet is worked in the unusual shell and bead embroidery found in the Philipines, and the technique is discussed over several paragraphs in the accompanying text. However, the picture is so miniaturized that if you were not reading a book on beadwork, you would have no idea that the design on the shirt is any kind of applied decoration, much less beads and shells. Meanwhile, a photo of an unremarkable (and undiscussed) purse covers half the page.

A huge disappointment is the complete lack of information about where any of these beautiful pieces may be. For those doing bead research or travelling (or both), it would be helpful to know which are in collections that the public can access either through web contact or museum visits.

Neither of these should deter buyers interested in beads or beadwork. This book is a keeper. If there is a second edition, however, I would hope for the addition of information about the collections from which the beadworks come.

Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous Overview
Review: This is a wonderful book. It is beautifully photographed with sumptuous examples of beadwork traditions from around the world. The text covers each tradition rather lightly, but the information the authors do provide is solid.

That said, some of the size and proportion choices for the photographs make no sense. Entire garmets will be tiny, while beaded trinkets will be magnified. The most annoying example is the Bagobo shirt on page 137. This garmet is worked in the unusual shell and bead embroidery found in the Philipines, and the technique is discussed over several paragraphs in the accompanying text. However, the picture is so miniaturized that if you were not reading a book on beadwork, you would have no idea that the design on the shirt is any kind of applied decoration, much less beads and shells. Meanwhile, a photo of an unremarkable (and undiscussed) purse covers half the page.

A huge disappointment is the complete lack of information about where any of these beautiful pieces may be. For those doing bead research or travelling (or both), it would be helpful to know which are in collections that the public can access either through web contact or museum visits.

Neither of these should deter buyers interested in beads or beadwork. This book is a keeper. If there is a second edition, however, I would hope for the addition of information about the collections from which the beadworks come.