The "Beadscapes"

These "Beadscapes" feature some of my favorite ancient beads, ranging in date from 1000BC to about 1200AD. Where were these fascinating beads made? It depends who you ask, as there is much heated debate among archaeologists and bead experts. This is not surprising, since where you find a bead does not mean it was made there. Trade in beads and amulets was common even in the earliest times. Suffice it to say that most major bead-producing areas from Western Europe to the Middle East to China to Egypt, Asia, and Northern Africa are represented in my pictures. Many of these beads were found in modern Afghanistan, which was a major crossroads for trade and commerce during ancient times. The arid climate was perfect for long preservation, and artifacts continue to be discovered today. The allure of ancient beads has become a consuming passion for me and thousands of other collectors. 

"If eyes were made for seeing, then beauty is its own excuse for being." Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882.

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." Aristotle, 551-479BC

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." Ellen Parr

"Seeing it once is better than being told 100 times." Zhou Chongguo, Han Dynasty.

"Don't speak unless you can improve upon the silence." Spanish Proverb

"A monk sips
morning tea,
it's quiet,
the chrysanthemums flowering."

Matsuo Basho