Black Otter Trading Post

Archive for the ‘Bead Related Articles’ Category

Your night to shine: choosing the right prom dress
Not many events happen every spring, year after year. But one special event happens every year in almost every high school throughout the country. And besides graduation and spring break, it’s one of the most memorable events in someone’s life – prom.

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I want to make a Turquoise cuff, but I cannot seem to find the pieces to make what I want. Does anyone know any good sites?

Glassmaking in Murano, Italy has a long and impressive history. In fact, it is the longest lasting center for glass making in history. From the 9th century to today, Murano has continued to produce beautiful and innovative artwork through generations of success and failure. A small island northwest of the city of Venice, Murano is not much larger than a few square miles. As a major trading port, Murano reflects Asian and Muslim influences. Multihued beads were used in trading with Asian, African and Muslim neighbors.

In the 13th century, glassblowing in Venice grew so rapidly that in 1260s, Arte, a trade association was formed. In an attempt to formalize a body of guidelines on how glass shops were to be operated and the duties of the glass blowing master and his disciples, the Capitoloare Guild was created. For more than 500 years, the Capitolare was updated, addressing quality control, raw material agreements and trade protection from foreign competitors.

In the 1200s, glass blowing operations were moved from the city of Venice to the island of Murano because of the fire hazard to a city built of wood. The consolidation of all glassblowers to the island allowed the government to oversee and manage its monopoly on this profitable industry. In fact, the government was so intent on protecting the industry, it created harsh consequences for glassblowers who tried to leave and practice glassblowing in other countries. The glassblower’s secret techniques were not only prestigious, but an underpinning of the local economy.

This tightening of control actually produced a higher quality of glass – as the level of competition was intensified between master glassblowers. Innovative ideas and techniques quickly spread throughout the island. With the advent of the Renaissance, new techniques were refined and consumer demand heightened as people sought out the lightest, most graceful glass, further enflaming the reputation and prestige of Venetian glassblowers. Venetian glass became so popular some glassblowers disregarded the Guild’s edict on trade secrets and began migrating throughout Europe.

Growing competition from other countries, the occupation of the Venetian Republic by Napoleon’s army in 1797, and eventual abolishment of the Guild in 1805, brought about the demise of Venice glassblowing. Gone were the beautiful works of art from just a few decades before. The scant few glassblowing shops that remained produced only beads, small bottles and other trinkets needed for trade.

Thankfully, a reversal of fortunes began to occur in the late 1800s as lost glass blowing techniques began to be reintroduced and artists such as Antonio Salviati won numerous awards at the 1867 Universal Exposition in Paris for his amazing glass pieces. Around that time, the rediscovery and utilization of murrine, a glass working technique from Roman times become instrumental in the revitalization of the Murano glass industry in the late 1800s.

Over the next 100 years, glass artists such as Paolo Venini, Napoleone Martinuzzi, Giacomo Cappellin, Carlo Scarpa, and Ercole Barovier, to name a few, left their glass artistry genius on the Murano glass industry. The heat of adversity again produced magnificent results directly after World War II. The artistic energy pent up during the war produced some of Murano’s most creative and innovative years in the 1950s. Maestros collaborated with artists including Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore and Jean Cocteau, as well as served as mentors to budding artists of the American Studio Glass movement.

The most recent challenge to Venetian glassblowing has been counterfeiting since the 1990s. Sadly, many of the classic vases, glassware and millefiore objects are being counterfeited in Asia, for sale overseas. In response, the Venetian glassmaker’s consortium registered a Murano trademark that appears on their wares with the European Union that is difficult to replicate or counterfeit.

We are importers of fine African art and antique collectible trade beads.

Are you planning an image makeover? Do you want to look cool, trendy and fun to hang around with? Well, then the doctor suggests – beads. You may try a different look with cosmetic surgery, or completely change your wardrobe, but your accessories and what you wear is the biggest clue on your style of dressing and your attitude towards life.

All of us want to stay and look young for as long as possible. It is so much fun and cool thing to be young and beautiful. But once we are out of the twenties and in early thirties, age seems to play hide and seek with us. Then some try all desperate measures to remain young and happening. However, you can try something that does not seem very desperate. And the best way to go about it is bring in the power of beads.

Beads in your clothes would make your outfit look quite fashionable. Beads in your accessories give your belongings a newness. You can put beads anywhere you want – bags, shoes, belts, wallet. It all depends on your imagination. Then you can also add beads to the cover of your personal diary or just about anywhere. Experimenting with different colours and size of beads is a very good idea.

The best way to make beads work wonders for you is by putting them in your jewellery. You can make jewellery by stringing in beads with more beads or with precious gemstones and gems. This makes them look quite beautiful and trendy – both at the same time. Beads look good on your ears, on your neck, in your bracelet and also in your anklet.

Include beads in your life and see what difference do they bring in. See people changing perceptions about you and enjoy a colourful life with varicoloured beads jewellery.