Beads and Bead Makers: Gender, Material Culture and MeaningLidia D. Sciama, Joanne B. Eicher Beads have been used since antiquity, not only to dress the body, but as measures of value in economic and ritual exchanges. Their popularity has never waned, and in recent years their trade has enjoyed a world-wide revival. Beads have deep and multiple meanings: in many cultures, together with garments, they reflect age, gender and social status, and are a vehicle through which people store, exchange and transmit wealth.This absorbing book analyzes techniques and gendered aspects of the making of beads, as well as their role in trade and body adornment, in a wide range of societies, from the ancient Mediterranean to Renaissance Venice and present-day Southern Africa and West Africa, where they have become a symbol of cultural survival and identity. Anyone interested in material culture, anthropology, art history, and gender studies will find that this book provides fascinating insights into attitudes toward the body and its dress as well as systems of social classification. |
Contents
An Archaeological Investigation into Ancient Chinese Beads | 273 |
Appendices | 295 |
List of Contributors | 307 |
Copyright | |
Other editions - View all
Beads and Bead Makers: Gender, Material Culture and Meaning Lidia D. Sciama,Joanne B. Eicher No preview available - 1998 |
Common terms and phrases
activity African American ancient appear associated beadwork belonging called Carnival century cloth collected colour considered coral culture decoration described display dress Durban early earrings Ecuador enslaved especially European evidence example exchange female Figure gender glass beads gold groups Highlands History Ilorin important industry interest Isluga jade jewellery Kalabari Kelabit labour lapis lazuli less London major male manufacturing Mardi Gras material means Museum Mycenaean necklaces objects observed origin ornaments Otavalo parade particularly period Photo present Press probably production province References ritual rosary sexual shape shells social society sometimes sources South southern status stone strands string Studies suggest symbolic textiles tomb trade traditional types University usually variety Venetian Venezia Venice wear West Western woman women World worn young