Native American Beadwork

Native American artists are among the most skilled practitioners of beadwork, and this classic study — based on the extensive collections in the Heye Foundation's Museum of the American Indian — offers a well-illustrated look at the extraordinary variety of beadwork methods and their spectacular results. A much-admired genre of folk art, beadwork appears on not only clothing and other forms of personal adornment but also on ceremonial and everyday objects. The ample illustrations in this survey include photographs of decorated items: baskets and bowls, necklaces, robes, cradles, and other items, richly embellished in beads made from gold and precious stones, shells, and bone. In addition, numerous figures depict details of the stitchery techniques. Needleworkers, crafters, and aficionados of Native American culture will find much within these pages to excite their interest and enthusiasm.