What are glass beads?

What are glass beads?

Dragonfly beads (Tonbodama, Tombodama) are decorative glass beads with holes. They are small glass beads with patterns painted on them using multiple pieces of colored glass. During the Edo period, when production of these beads became popular in Japan, glass beads covered with intricate floral patterns were said to have been named "Tonbodama" because they resembled the compound eyes of a dragonfly.
In English they are also called Glass Beads or Eye Beads, and in Chinese they are called "glass beads" or "lili beads."
Glass beads have been used to make accessories such as necklaces and hairpins by threading string through the holes, as well as small items such as netsuke. As a type of antique bead, they have avid collectors all over the world, and there are even specialized museums in Japan.
These tiny glass beads are filled with the wisdom and longing for beauty that humanity has cultivated over the ages.

As a jewel created by humans

Glass beads have a long history, having been excavated from ruins in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt before the Common Era. At the time, when glass was a valuable material, they were treated like precious stones. Glass beads spread around the world along with glass technology and have been discovered in ancient civilizations all over the world. In addition to being used as decorative items, they were also highly valued as sacred objects, being buried with nobles and used as talismans.

Glass beads that changed global trade

During the Age of Discovery, Venice used its advanced glass technology to create glass beads, known as trade beads, which were used as currency in trade with West Africa. In exchange for the beads, many local people were sent to Europe as slaves. It's a cruel story, but for the powerful people of Africa at the time, the beauty of glass beads was something they were willing to trade with humans for. Glass beads were also used as currency in Dutch trade with Asia, and in trade between the Ainu people and China and Honshu.
Glass beads spread all over the world through trade, and as they developed in each place they influenced craft techniques and culture. The influence of glass beads can be seen in the glass works of Emile Gallé, a representative artist of Art Nouveau. In this way, a wide variety of glass beads were born all over the world.

Japanese Glass Beads

In Japan, glass beads have been recorded as having been excavated from ruins dating back to the Kofun period. During the Nara period, glass technology was introduced from China via the Silk Road, and glass beads began to be produced domestically. Glass beads from that time, which were associated with Buddhist art and used for interior decoration, are housed in the Shosoin Repository.
Glass beads first came into the hands of common people in Japan during the Edo period. Advanced glass technology from China, the Netherlands, and other countries was introduced to Japan through trade with the West. Complicated processing and mass production became possible, and glass beads were introduced to Osaka, Kyoto, and Edo via Dejima in Nagasaki, where they became popular. Glass beads were particularly produced in large quantities in Osaka, and one theory is that the name of the town of Tamatsukuri, which still stands today, comes from glass bead making.
Glass beads from this period were called Edo glass beads, and they were decorated with floral and swirl patterns, developing into something uniquely Japanese. They came to be used for hairpins and netsuke, and became a huge hit not only among the upper class but also among the common people.

How to make glass beads

There are various methods for making glass beads, but the currently most popular method is called burner work (lampwork). First, colored glass melted over a burner is wrapped around a metal rod several times to create a base. Different colored glass is then melted and placed on top of the base to create a pattern.
As it is made using fragile glass, it requires skilled techniques to make. Subtle differences in temperature cause the color and pattern to change, so no two pieces are exactly alike.
Each and every glass bead is handmade by a craftsman, making it a one-of-a-kind piece.