The History of Glass Beads in China

Glass bead is a common kind of accessory, widely used in clothing, evening dress, shoes, hats, handbags, headgear, wool textiles, pearl embroidery, lighting, handicrafts, etc. Its components are inert silicon dioxide.

The history of glass beads is long. It has existed since the Western Zhou Dynasty. By the Warring States Period, it had became very popular. At present, almost all the glass beads were found in the tombs excavated during the Warring States Period. Its development is inseparable from the continuous improvement of technology and equipment, and the cleaner glass quality. At the same time, the jade people wear was few, which can not meet people's requirements. So this promoted the production of glass beads in large quantities and exquisite.

In 1978, a set of bells and glass beads were unearthed from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, Hubei Province, which attracted worldwide attention. One of them is made of seven monochrome glass beads. The beads are round, purple-brown, with a smooth surface and regular shape. Another string of beads is beautifully decorated, typical Dragonfly eye glass beads, mostly in flat circles of varying sizes with light blue or green as the basic color. The surface is decorated with several white, light blue concentric rings, the center of which is slightly higher than around, showing a protruding shape. This string of glass beads should be made by twisting the womb, dipping in white and light blue materials respectively. Then points on the bead with circular, and bond when neither of them is fully solidified.

Dragonfly eye glass beads were the main form of glass beads in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period. At the same time, they were widely distributed in Central Asia, West Asia and North Africa. They were common varieties of glassware between China and the West. The size of each bead in the string is different. Except for one green diamond, the other beads are flat circles with perforations and uniform shapes. These glass beads have gorgeous color and regular shape, reflecting a high level of technology, and they can be used as a typical representative of glass beads in the Warring States Period.

With the development of technology, we can produce any shape of glass beads and other jewelries like jump rings.