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From Wildbison

Valerie Hector's The Art of Beadwork: Historic Inspiration, Contemporary Design (ISBN 0-8320-0307-8) is an interesting mixture of the historical and cultural analysis of varied beadmaking traditions and the presentation of works by contemporary designers who have been encouraged by these traditions.

There are numerous books on contemporary bead types, in addition to many records of beadmaking up to 75,000 years (which may return, see book discusses a number of ethnic and historic beadwork traditions:

- Han Beadwork (Mainland China)

- Old Western 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)

- Historical 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 Werksttte Beadwork (1920s Austria)

- Funerary Beadwork (France)

- Plains and Plateau Beadwork

- Achomawi/Atsugewi Beadwork (California)

- Huichol Beadwork (Mexico)

- Chimu Beadwork (Peru)

Each section includes a short description of the historic beading history, sometimes with interesting anecdotes (I liked the main one concerning the "bead trees" that beads supposedly originate from), followed by projects by modern bead artists based on each of those customs. Each project is shown with detail by detail diagrams and photographs.

The overall impression is certainly one of amazement at the amazing creativity of these small objects that have been turned by the human mind into dazzling and amazing projects in so many times and so many cultures. Even though you're maybe not thinking about recreating some of the designs shown here, The Art of Beadwork is just a fascinating book that you'll probably go back to again and again.