A bead is a small, decorative object that is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes of a material such as stone, bone, shell, glass, plastic, wood or pearl and with a small hole for threading or stringing.
How were beads made in ancient times?
There is evidence as early as 2340-2180 BC in Mesopotamia of a method known as "core-forming" where they used a metal mandrel with pieces of glass held over a flame. Even today, we make beads by holding glass rods over a flame then gently winding the molten glass over the mandrels.
How are beads made from stones?
Into the machine the pebbles, water and a coarse grinding grit is added, the machine then continuously tumbles the pebbles for about a week over which time their surface becomes polished to produce beautiful semi precious beads or pendants.
How do I identify a bead?
If your beads have holes drilled into them, the finish of the holes can help you identify their substance. The holes of glass beads may have a powdery look, while plastic beads appear untouched. Transparent glass beads may look frosty around the area where the hole was drilled; plastic beads will not have this quality.