Why No Collection Of Native American Collectibles Is Complete Without Antique Indian Beadwork

From museums to private collectors, Native American collectibles are some of the most desired. Antique Indian beadwork is among the most collectible of all. Before beads were introduced to them, Native Americans decorated their clothing with painted designed. Then, as time went on, they began to make beads out of bone, dried berries and eventually beads, which were introduced by European traders ultimately.

How Antique Indian Beadwork Is Born

In the late 17th century, traders from Europe came to the Americas with brightly colored beads made from glass and ultimately traded them with Native Americans. Called “pony beads”, these early beads found in antique Indian beadwork were carried on horseback to Native American villages for trade. The majority of these beads were blue and some were white and red as well. That is why much of the antique Indian beadwork from this period is so predominantly blue. And, this type of beadwork remained popular until the middle of the 19th century, when smaller beads began to become more plentiful and fashionable. Nowadays, it seems that just about every type of garment of Native American collectible features a bit of beadwork on it. The needle and thread wasn’t introduced to Native American cultures for many years and actually, what they used to apply beads to Native American collectibles was called a sinew. Sinew is a large tendon taken from an elk or a deer and then dried.

The Varities Of Antique Indian Beadwork

There are three main kinds of Indian beadwork found in Native American collectibles. These are:

The Overlay or Spot Stitching Variety

This variety of antique Indian beadwork is characterized by its curvaceous and flowery patterns.

The Lazy Stitch

Known for its boxy and straight patterns, the lazy stitch is most commonly found in antique Indian beadwork from the Western side of the North American continent.

The Loom Style

The Ojibway Native American tribe is credited with originating this style of beading. As time and trade wore on, the practice became more commonplace among many other tribes. The loom used was very portable and easy to carry as tribes migrated as well. Essentially, the loom was made of four pieces of flat wood and a sinew.

Continued Popularity

Since the styles are so coveted, modern hobbyists and entrepreneurs and even Indians themselves are still creating items in the antique Indian beadwork styles as a way to make a living. If you are a collector of Native American collectibles, you know full well that it’s imperative to have many pieces of antique Indian beadwork as part of your archive.

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