Seed Beads in North America

The history of seed beads. The variety of beads introduced to North America is vast. Small glass beads are often known as Seed Beads. Italy produced these small glass beads in remarkable quantities, establishing itself as one of the most prolific manufacturers. Most of these beads were made using the “drawn” method. A glass blower would blow a bubble in a molten blob of glass. Other workers, often young boys, would grasp the soft glass bubble and pull it into a long thin tube. The air bubble would create the hole going the length of the tube. Some references state that these tubes could be up to 150 feet long. Once cooled, workers shattered the tube into small pieces, then reheated and tumbled them to smooth the edges. Finally, workers sorted the finished beads by size.

European Sources of Beads

Italian seed beads prevailed in popularity throughout the 1800’s and into the early 1900’s. Guilds of artists regulated bead manufacturing, carefully safeguarding their trade secrets. Early bead manufacturers each had their own terminology for sizes and colors of beads. This is one reason there are discrepancies in historic documents pertaining to beads. The original sample cards showcase these variations, helping merchants around the world select beads for trade.

In the early 1900’s, Czechoslovakia became the hub of seed bead manufacture. These beads are fairly uniform and well suited for Native craft. These beads are typically more rounded in shape. Today, bead workers rely on these beads for uniformity and quality. A few other countries have started to manufacture seed beads with a variety of techniques, qualities and results.

Glass Beads At The Wandering Bull

There is still no bead manufacturer in North America. Importers actively bring in glass beads, ensuring a steady supply in the market. Plume Trading and Sales was a major distributor of beads starting in 1927. The Wandering Bull purchased Plume Trading and Sales in 1984. Our archives house original Italian bead sample cards, correspondence with Italian bead manufacturers and documentation concerning shipping and customs procedures.

The Wandering Bull, LLC offers a wide variety of glass beads for all of your beading projects. Seed Beads, Reproduction Beads, various types of Trade Beads, Wampum Beads and Crow & Tile Beads are among the most popular beads that you will find at WanderingBull.com.

Written by Andy Bullock