Bedouin Silver

Beads and inlays of various materials are often used alongside silver. Beads have been popular in the Middle East and North Africa since antiquity.

Beads on a silver hair ornament from Morocco, Tata region

To cater to the needs of the Islamic world, glass producers in Bohemia produced large quantities of beads and ready made amulets. Red ring bezels engraved with the crescent and stars, or verses from the Qur’an, as well as blue beads to ward off the evil eye, were all in high demand by Bedouin women. One of the characteristics of traditional Bedouin jewellery, which sets it apart from Western jewelry, is that large and small beads are strung on a particular necklace in apparently random order; diverse materials will have been used, and the overall appearance is one of irregularity rather than symmetry.

Beaded amulet on a strand of tassels, Central Asia

Beads are also used to decorate a variety of other objects that are closely related to jewelry. Face veils, amulets, clothing, other jewelry items and even religious items such as tasbihs are frequently made of beads. In addition to their silver jewelry, many women adorn themselves with strings of coloured beads as well. The beads as well as the silver jewelry items form a complete set of personal adornment. Due to their colour and the materials they are made of, beads frequently carry a symbolic meaning as well.

Combination of materials: on a piece of blue beadwork, a vaeriety of glass beads and coins is strung to create a piece of jewelry

For more information on beadwork in traditional heritage, see this website.