This proposal contains my initial month-by-month plan for my independent study this semester. I’m only a few weeks into my project and I’ve already made edits to these plans, so think of them more as a touchstone guide than a rigid rulebook. Come back to this page to see–roughly–where I am in my project and what I have planned next (I know I will!).
Bead in Your Bonnet: A Global History of Ceramic Beads
Overview
While Durham Academy offers courses in art, history, and–indeed–art history, there is often not enough time in the year for students to delve deeply into subcategories that interest them. The story of ceramic beads and all of their uses (for trade, decoration, and ceremony) combines global history with humanity’s artistic evolution, and provides an opportunity for hands-on learning. This semester-long study would employ the method of learning by doing as I would research and then create traditional beads from a number of societies around the world, many regions being whole centuries apart. This project would include rounds of cultural research, making and assembling ceramic beads, and brief informational paragraphs for each region included in my studies.
Process
Ms. GB’s ceramics class (taken in the ‘22-’23 school year) has allowed me to become familiar with navigating the ceramics studio and the rules of working with clay, which will allow me to focus on research and bead replication rather than spending time learning the basics of ceramic work. I am deeply involved in the fiber arts (friendship bracelets, crochet, knitting) and am therefore comfortable with delicate, small-scale jewelry work.
I have gathered preliminary sources* for each culture I plan to study, most being archeological papers or studies of the purpose of ceramic beads in my chosen cultures. They are listed below:
*Note that many of these sources are housed on JSTOR, which may require a login to view. JSTOR is prone to only working on DA wifi, as DA is the listed provider for site subscriptions.
North America–South Dakota Sioux + Mexico
Ceramic Beads from Huston-Fox by Mini Michael (1993)
Tarascan Ceramic Production in Mexico by Amy J. Hirschman (2008)
Ceramic Bead Necklace (Protoclassic Mexico) by The Museum of Natural and Cultural History
South America–Peru
Personal Adornments at Moche by Hélène Bernier (2010)
Tracing Sixteenth Century Beads in South America by Kristi Feinzig (2017)
Africa– Mali + Burkina Faso
Gao and Igbo-Ukuwu Beads by Timothy Insoll, Thurstan Shaw (1997)
The Beads of Kissi, Burkina Faso by Sonja Magnavita (2003)
Europe–Central Steppes + Greece
History and How to of Komboloi by The Greek Reporter
The Avars: Steppe People of Central Europe by Falko Daim (1984)
Asia–Japan
Guide to Ojime Beads by Big Bead Little Bead
Ojime Beads 1 and 2 from The Metropolitan Museum
Product
I plan to produce a string of 5-15 beads (depending on complexity and size) for each studied culture with the exception of Greece, for which I intend to create a full Komboloi of 16 beads and a ceramic charm. This will result in 7 collections of beads including the Komboloi.
Monthly Planning Chart
| Month | Plan |
| January | 3 meetings with Ms. GB on Day 4 during G period (weekly) Region: North AmericaNative American beads (Sioux tribes)Late Post-Classical Mexican beads (Purepecha peoples) Plan:Research historical background of chosen culturesGather visual referencesCreate and glaze beadsFire beadsAssemble beads on string/other method of joiningWrite informational paragraph on origin and use of these beads End of month goal: String of beads (10-15) from each studied culture |
| February | 3 meetings with Ms. GB on Day 4 during G period (weekly) Region: South America16th Century Peruvian beads (Moche peoples) Plan:Research historical background of chosen culturesGather visual referencesCreate and glaze beadsFire beadsAssemble beads on string/other method of joiningWrite informational paragraph on origin and use of these beads End of month goal: String of beads (10-15) from studied culture |
| March | 3 meetings with Ms. GB on Day 4 during G period (weekly) Region: EuropeCentral European steppe peoples (the Avars, 750 C.E.)Medieval Greek worry beads (Komboloi, predecessor to the rosary) Plan:Research historical background of chosen culturesGather visual referencesCreate and glaze beadsCreate Komboloi charmFire beads and charmAssemble European beads on string, assemble Komboloi on string with charm fastenerWrite informational paragraph on origin and use of these beads End of month goal: String of beads (5-10) from Central Europe, completed Komboloi (16 beads w/charm at the bottom) |
| April | 3 meetings with Ms. GB on Day 4 during G period (weekly) Region: Asia16th Century Japanese Ojime beads Plan:Research historical background of chosen culturesGather visual referencesCreate and glaze beadsFire beadsAssemble beads on string/other method of joiningWrite informational paragraph on origin and use of these beads End of month goal: String of beads (5–Ojime beads are relatively large) from studied culture(s) |
| May | 3 meetings with Ms. GB on Day 4 during G period (weekly) Region: Africa4th Century BCE–12th Century CE Mali & Burkina Faso beads (Gao, Igbo-Uwuku, and Kissi peoples) Plan:Research historical background of chosen culturesGather visual referencesCreate and glaze beadsFire beadsAssemble beads on string/other method of joiningWrite informational paragraph on origin and use of these beads End of month goal: String of beads (10-15) from studied culture(s) |
Display Methods
I would like to ultimately display my beads somewhere on campus accompanied by each of their brief written descriptions and an explanation of my project as a whole. Preceding this, I would also run a blog (as required) posting weekly or monthly updates and images of my process for each string of beads.
I am submitting this proposal after adequate thought and planning, ensuring this project is manageable within the time constraints posed both by the semester and by my academic and extracurricular commitments. Thank you.