EDJewelry and Beading

Displaying 1 - 33 of 33
Catalog # Name Description
1 ED1998.10.4 Coaster West African. Woven with the same type of seeds used on a shekere. Roughly 15x15cm.  ED1998.10.4 (Coaster) image
2 ED1998.10.5 Coaster West African. Woven with the same type of seeds used on a shekere. Roughly 15x15cm.  ED1998.10.5 (Coaster) image
3 ED1998.10.6 Trivet West African. Woven with the same type of seeds used on a shekere. Roughly 30x30cm.  ED1998.10.6 (Trivet) image
4 ED2003.7.14 Button Two abalone buttons attached to a card. "Pearl" brand.  ED2003.7.14 (Button) image
5 ED2019-126 Blanket Northwest Coast. Miniature example of a ceremonial button blanket. Sheet included with object: "Represented family crests, proclaim rank, and the social status of the wearer. That status was and is reinforced by the robe's acclimation of cosmic support - power- the history of which has been validated properly and prepetuated through time (Robes of Power, by D. Jensen and P. Sargeant). Depending on the clan the designs include raven, killer-whale, eagle, wolf. The blankets are decorated with white buttons originally brought by European traders; prior to the buttons, copper plates, dentalium, and abalone shells, as well as bullet casings were sewn on the edges of regalia because they made a tinkling, rustling noise when the wearer danced.  ED2019-126 (Blanket) image
6 ED2019-149 Dream Catcher A replica dream catcher ED2019-149 (Dream Catcher) image
7 ED2019-15 Armlet A West African arm band made of white, black, red, yellow, and green beads on top of a black leather base. ED2019-15 (Armlet) image
8 ED2019-150 Necklace Northern Cheyenne necklace made of white, yellow, blue, orange, and red colored beads. Additionally, contains shells and porcupine needles as beads. ED2019-150 (Necklace) image
9 ED2019-158 Fan, Feather A Native American feather fan made with a tan leather handle and black, white, and red feathers. These were used for various purposes such as during powwows, dancing, religious ceremonies, or as a cooling device during hot days. ED2019-158 (Fan, Feather) image
10 ED2019-164 Dream Catcher The dream catcher is a custom which originated with the Ojibwe Native Americans, whose culture originated around the Great Lakes area. The Ojibwe call the dream catcher a "Bwaajige Ngwaagan", or a dream snare. The tradition is that one who has bad dreams will be cleansed and protected by the presence of the dream catcher.  ED2019-164 (Dream Catcher) image
11 ED2019-165 Beadwork An example of Eastern Woodlands (Native American) beadwork. The design is of a flower, and the sample contains blue and yellow beads. ED2019-165 (Beadwork) image
12 ED2019-17 Rattle A & B. Nigerian cocoa bean rattles. Traditionally the Igbo women in southeastern Nigeria wear a waist belt rattle, and ankle rattle on each leg, and a rattle in each hand when they dance in ceremonies and festivals. The woven material is raffia palm fiber and the beans are the husk of the cocoa bean.  ED2019-17 (Rattle) image
13 ED2019-185 Rattle Made of cocoa beans and braided rope tied together. Beans attached to rope and dangled with untied ends. Meant to be tied and shaken by waist ankles or arms. Rough edges on cocoa beans cut in half. ED2019-185 (Rattle) image
14 ED2019-196 Rattle Cocoa bean rattle- Cocoa beans strung together by braided rope. Rope is pierced through beans to connect them. Rope is tied off in knots on ends. Cocoa beans are halves, some have minor cracks on shells. Insides of some beans have unique marks, like scratches. From Nigeria ED2019-196 (Rattle) image
15 ED2019-93 Beads, Prayer Tibetan mala prayer beads. Mala beads are like rosary beads, which are used for meditation. These mala are made of rosewood, which is believed to be good for the skin, improving circulation and strengthening an individual's aura while repelling negative energy. A mala is a string of 108 beads with one bead as the summit bead called a 'sumeru'. Mala beads are tools used to keep one focused on the meditation practice. The mala are moved in rhythm with breathing and saying a mantra, so that sleep and mental distractions are prevented. The mala is traditionally held in the right hand.  ED2019-93 (Beads, Prayer) image
16 ED2020-1 Bracelet Northern Cheyenne bracelet made of blue and red beads. ED2020-1 (Bracelet) image
17 ED2020-2 Bracelet A Northern Cheyenne beaded bracelet made of pale leather and red, navy blue, light blue, and yellow beading.  ED2020-2 (Bracelet) image
18 ED2020-3 Pin A Native American pin with a white beaded circle and leather back. Four red and black arrows pointing to the center of the circle.  ED2020-3 (Pin) image
19 ED2021-102 Bracelet A bracelet from India made of brass. It's a C-shaped piece of jewlery with a chain pattern on the front. ED2021-102 (Bracelet) image
20 ED2021-108 Anklet A metal, Indian anklet, called a payal. The anklet has two strands with sets of bells placed at intervals on the strands. On the clasp is the @ symbol (possibly a brand symbol) and a set of bells. ED2021-108 (Anklet) image
21 ED2021-153 Dream Catcher A souvenir dream catcher created in the style of the Plains Native Americans. The dream catcher is circle-shaped and crafted with various materials such as twine, beads, and feathers.  Tan, with an interlaced center, 3 small beads in the middle (green, blue, red), and 2 feathers at the bottom. According to an information card the object, "The mandala is made as a personal shield for the spirit. It represents the history of a family and is made by elders of the culture with prayers of love." ED2021-153 (Dream Catcher) image
22 ED2021-154 Rattle Nigerian cocoa bean rattles. This particular object has 12 cocoa beans attached to the tan fibers of the string. The tag with the object reads: "Traditionally the Igbo women in southeastern Nigeria wear a waist belt rattle, an ankle rattle on each leg, and a rattle in each hand when they dance in ceremonies and festivals. About 10 women will dance and play to the same beat, so the sound of the rattles cuts through any drumming. The woven material is raffia palm fiber and the beans are the husk of the cocoa bean." ED2021-154 (Rattle) image
23 ED2021-178 Beads, Mala A set of brown Mala beads with an orange tassel hanging from the summit bead. The tag with the object reads: "Mala beads are used for meditation and are similar to the Rosary in Catholicism. The mala beads in the bag are made of rosewood, which is believed to be good for the skin by improving circulation and strengthening an individual's aura while repelling negative energy. A mala contains a string of 108 beads and one summit bead called a sumeru. These beads aid people in keeping their focus during meditation practice by moving in rhythm with their breathing and saying a mantra in order to prevent sleep and mental distractions. Lastly, it traditionally rests in the right hand while meditating." ED2021-178 (Beads, Mala) image
24 ED2021-179 Amulet A small, multicolored pouch (A) with a protective amulet (B) wrapped in a yellow fabric inside of it. The tag with the object reads: "This golden-yellow amulet can be found inside the colorful cloth bag. The astrological amulet, called Jamyang Serkhor (meaning "the golden wheel of Manjushri), is a general protective and harmonizing amulet of Lord Manjushri, who embodies all wisdom of Buddha. A piece of parchment printed from an ancient wooden block and inscribed with the emblems/mantras in the form of the cosmic turtle rests inside of the amulet. The amulet is used by wearing it or keeping it with personal belongings such as putting it under a pillow while sleeping, hanging it on the entrance of a home, or putting it in a car or bag. It should NEVER be removed from the yellow fabric wrapping." ED2021-179 (Amulet) image
25 ED2021-28 Quill, Porcupine 8 porcupine quills. Prior to European colonization, porcupine quills were used by Native populations to sew and as decoration. They could be dyed prior to being used as adornment.  ED2021-28 (Quill, Porcupine) image
26 ED2021-30 Turquoise Polished, uncut turquoise. Many cultures around the world and throughout history have used turquois as a decorative gemstone and held it in high esteem. In particular, Southwest Native American tribes considered this stone sacred.  ED2021-30 (Turquoise) image
27 ED2021-31 Rattle Nigerian cocoa bean rattle. To be worn around the waist.  ED2021-31 (Rattle) image
28 ED2021-33 Game Ring and pin game. Many different Native American cultures played some version of this game. The specific rules and materials vary, but the overall purpose of the game is for the player to swing the ring into the air and catch it on the end of the stick. Among the Cheyenne, this game was considered a "love game", where willing to play the game with one another was seen as an acceptance or refusal of one's interest in the other.  ED2021-33 (Game) image
29 ED2021-34 Bindi 9 multi-color bindi on a product card.  ED2021-34 (Bindi) image
30 ED2021-47 Rosary A rosary with 53 small, red beads and 6 big, silver beads. The hanging pendant on the end of the rosary shows Jesus Christ on the cross. The smaller, middle pendant shows an image of Jesus's mother, Mary. The rosary rests in a plastic container with a picture of Mary and the words "Ntra Senora de Guadalupe" on the lid. ED2021-47 (Rosary) image
31 ED2021-48 Rosary A rosary with 59 small, green/blue beads. The hanging pendant on the end of the rosary shows Jesus Christ on the cross. The smaller, middle pendant shows an image of Jesus's mother, Mary. The rosary rests in a green and silver striped box. It was purchased for 20.95 pesos. ED2021-48 (Rosary) image
32 ED2021-56 Pendant A large, metal pendant which resembles a tumi, a knife used for ceremonial purposes in ancient Bolivian and Peruvian civilizations. The pendant consists of a carved, half-circle blade (not sharp) on the bottom and an image of Naylamp, a water god, on the top. It is stored inside of a small, cardboard box with a blue "Smythson" stick on top, along with object ED2021-55. ED2021-56 (Pendant) image
33 ED2021-57 Shell, Sea A plastic bag containing 8 shell halves (clam shells) of varying sizes and a smaller, plastic bag containing about 22 shell buttons. 6 of the shells have circle-shaped, cut-out holes from button-making. At one point in history, Muscatine, Iowa was considered the "pearl button capital of the world" since its location on the Mississippi river provided a lot of clam shells for pearl button manufacturing. (Items: A-E, G-I= shells, F = small bag of shell button cut outs). ED2021-57 (Shell, Sea) image