Permanent Exhibitions at
The Bead Museum

The History of Beads                           

The exhibition presents a "time-line" of hundreds of original bead examples and their origins in time and place from 40 000.BCE until today. This showcases the originals in a display curated by Jamey Allen and the time-line first developed by researcher, Jamey Allen.

The Language of Beads

An introduction to the terminology used by bead researchers, collectors, traders and crafters to describe the vast variety of bead types, shapes and makes that make up this common language of reference for the specialist and bead enthusiast.

Beads from Nature

The rich diversity of beads fashioned from the natural materials of the earth using examples from the cultures of the world. The exhibition is presented in two sections: Organic Materials, or carbon based sources that include plant and animal based products

Nature has been the source for human adornment long before recorded history, as is evidenced by pierced shells found in ancient burial sites. The oldest confirmed beads are ostrich eggshell, found in the Rift Valley, Kenya dating 37,000 to 39,900 years ago.

Organics refer to carbon-based matter, which are largely plant and animal materials and/or the products produced by them. Organic material often decomposes, making the rare occurrence in a primitive burial site an exceptional find. So highly valued are many organic materials such as shells, amber, feathers and tusks that they have been used as objects of trade, hence a form of currency.

Inorganics or non-carbon based materials, are therefore naturally occurring material, which is non-biological in origin, ex. minerals and rocks. Carved stone beads and other inorganic materials have been prized for their beauty and rarity of perceived magical properties from early in human history.

Observing our physical world, appreciating its beauty and using it for personal adornment is a part of the universal human experience. The desire to embellish ourselves seems deeply ingrained, if not for personal pleasure then for symbolic attributes often expressing a spiritual belief. Products from nature remind us of our shared stewardship on Earth, all around us and a part of us. This exhibition shows examples of these products used as jewelry and trade, bringing distant tribal expressions to us.