All About Beads, Different Types, Material, Various Uses

By Author: gemmall j
Total Articles: 5
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Bead is a ball like object pierced in the center for stringing. They are small articles which have been used for a wide range of purposes ever since the ancient times. They are strung to flexible wires or woven together with threads and even adhered to clay, fabric or similar surfaces. This article discusses about the materials used in the making of these objects and their different types and varied uses.

Material

These can be made from a variety of materials. They are broadly divided in to two categories of materials namely, Natural and Man-made materials. The natural materials used are organic and inorganic substances available in earth. Organic materials are of animal or plant origin, for e.g. bones, seeds, wood, coral and horn. Pearl is considered the most treasured among the Beads of natural origin. The inorganic materials are of mineral origin. They are the various types of stones and metals available on earth.

Among the man-made materials, ceramic is one of the oldest materials used for making these articles. Copper based alloys like bronze ...
... and brass have also been used in the olden times. The new bead making materials are glass and plastic. There are different formulations of glass with different substances used for making these small objects more attractive. The ones made of plastics are fusible and are available in a variety of colors. These can be strung or woven in to necklaces or other items or can be used to make designs on a solid surface by melting them together.

Different Types

There a variety of these articles available for all kinds of requirements. These are present in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes. Some of the most commonly used ones are seeds, faceted, bugle, round and Delica. The seed types are available in cylindrical and doughnut shapes called Japanese and Czech beads respectively. Faceted ones have many flat surfaces that reflect light and make it quite attractive. Bugles are long cylindrical ones available in a variety of colors and twists. Round ones are mostly made of plastic, glass or stones. Delica type of bead is perfectly cylindrical and has a smooth finish. When searching for wholesale beads, lac bead is a great option. They are made of lac, a naturally occurring substance.

Various Uses

These small ball-like objects are used for a variety of purposes. Rosary bead is used for prayer. These are also used as currency in Ghana. The other uses of these articles are in jewelry making, decorating homes, to add charm to your dress and many more. You can design your own jewelry or pattern on a dress and place an order with wholesales beads seller to get the desired ones and start stringing or threading as you like. The choice of string or thread is equally important to preserve the work for a longer time. These can also be used to make a pattern on a solid surface. Fusible ones would be the best of this purpose. They are also used in devices for anti-tension and are called worry bead.