Most of the other named glass types have their formulations and patterns inseparable from the manufacturing process. Lead crystal beads have a high percentage of lead oxide in the glass formula, increasing the refractive index. Many different subtypes of glass are now used for beadmaking, some of which have their own component-specific names. Beads were also made from ancient alloys such as bronze and brass, but as those were more vulnerable to oxidation they have generally been less well-preserved at archaeological sites. The oldest-surviving synthetic materials used for beadmaking have generally been ceramics: pottery and glass. Swedish patent 217875: The plastic bead pegboard (1962). Of the latter, only a few precious metals occur in pure forms, but other purified base metals may as well be placed in this category along with certain naturally occurring alloys such as electrum. The natural inorganics include various types of stones, ranging from gemstones to common minerals, and metals.

Amber and jet are also of natural organic origin although both are the result of partial fossilization. For most of human history pearls were the ultimate precious beads of natural origin because of their rarity the modern pearl-culturing process has made them far more common. The natural organics include bone, coral, horn, ivory, seeds (such as tagua nuts), animal shell, and wood. However, some of these materials now routinely undergo some extra processing beyond mere shaping and drilling such as color enhancement via dyes or irradiation. In modern manufacturing, the most common bead materials are wood, plastic, glass, metal, and stone.īeads are still made from many naturally occurring materials, both organic (i.e., of animal- or plant-based origin) and inorganic (purely mineral origin). As humans became capable of obtaining and working with more difficult materials, those materials were added to the range of available substances. The earliest beads were made of a variety of natural materials which, after they were gathered, could be readily drilled and shaped. In some cases, such as millefiori and cloisonné beads, multiple categories may overlap in an interdependent fashion.īeads can be made of many different materials. Beads can be divided into several types of overlapping categories based on different criteria such as the materials from which they are made, the process used in their manufacturing, the place or period of origin, the patterns on their surface, or their general shape.

Bead tool 4 pattern from picture