Bead Dictionary Letter H
Introduction
In the late 1990s, Penny Diamanti, Joyce Diamanti and Robert K. Liu started working on a Bead Dictionary. Around 2009, after much work by the Diamantis, the Bead Dictionary was posted on the Beadazzled website. Through the years, additions were made by Beadazzled. In the summer of 2018, when the Washington DC Beadazzled store and its website closed, the Bead Dictionary was offered to Ornament. This is a unique resource, especially rich for information on beads of ethnographic and ancient origins. As Ornament has only a staff of three, we are slowly reposting it on our website, updating or expanding some of the entries and are adding search features, links and references as time permits. The Bead Dictionary covers primarily beads and other perforated ornaments, but also tools and materials used by those who make jewelry utilizing beads. Photographs from the Ornament archives are being added, as well as new images taken expressly for the Bead Dictionary and others are being brought up to current standards, as many of these images are almost 30 years old. Original photography was by Robert K. Liu, while Cas Webber did additional photos for Beadazzled, noted in the captions as RKL or CW, after first captions.
This Dictionary of Beads is a labor of love and a work in progress. We welcome your comments and suggestions through the Contact link. To navigate, select from the visual index above to jump to the letter you want in the Dictionary, but give the page a little time to load first. To get back to the top and select another letter use the arrow button. We are continuously adding to the Dictionary, so check back often.
To search for keywords in Dictionary headings, use your browser's search function; for example in Internet Explorer use Control+F and in Apple Command+F, then type in your keyword. We hope you enjoy this (not-so-tiny) treasure, and learn more about the vast world of Beads.
Hair Beads
Nepalese or Tibetan traditional hair ornament of silver and turquoise. Robert K. Liu
Information to come...
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See Also: Himalayan Hair Ornaments
Collection of silver and turquoise hair ornaments from Nepal and Tibet with one silver and coral spacer bar. Robert K. Liu
Hairpipe
Bone hairpipe bead. Robert K. Liu
Information to come...
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Hallmark
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See: Stamping
Hardstone Beads
Information to come...
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See Also: Afghan Ancient Hardstone Beads
Head Pendants—Phoenician and Imitation
Ancient Phoenician head pendant, devitrified on the face and missing some of the hair curls (6.2 cm high). Robert K. Liu
Contemporary Venetian replica of a Phoenician head pendant, not meant to be a copy, but probably acid-etched in Asia to make it appear ancient. Robert K. Liu
In antiquity, only a few types of glass ornaments bore images of the human face: rod-formed polychrome human, and also zoomorphic, Phoenician-Punic head pendants; trail-decorated head beads of the 4th to 3rd century BC; molded monochrome janiform, or double-faced, pendants; molded monochrome negroid head pendants as well as full-figure nudes in the round; and, most numerous and well-known, polychrome early and late Roman mosaic face beads.
There have been imitations and fakes of Phoenician head pendants as well as of Roman mosaic face beads. Here we show a magnificent type C III Phoenician mask pendant, circa 350 to 200 BC, where all the glass has degraded, except the curls of the hair and beard. The other glass pendant is modern. Made in Venice, it was probably acid-etched in Asia so it could be sold as an antique. Ancient head pendants were formed on a rod, leaving a large hole in the back; imitations were made on puntis and do not show this diagnostic trait.
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Headpins
Vermeil headpins with ball ends. Cas Webber
Short sections of wire for making earrings or pendants, characterized by flat head or ball on one end.
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Hebron and Cairo—Contemporary Glass Beads
Contemporary glass beads from Cairo and Hebron. Robert K. Liu
While Egypt and the Near East have been the source of many beautiful glass ornaments, it is not known if any are still being produced, beyond the few kiln- or furnace-wound beads shown here from Cairo and Hebron, made in the 1970s. At that time, there were at least two glass furnaces in Egypt’s capital. These transparent and translucent glass beads are fairly crude and large, with the largest disk 3.7 cm in diameter. In the past, Hebron glass beads were an important trade item, often exported to Africa. Turkey has an active furnace-wound glass industry that produces beads and amulets, some for use on animals or vehicles.
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Hebron—Ancient Glass Beads
Rare and old Hebron cylindrical glass bead with trailed decoration. Robert K. Liu
Contemporary Hebron glass beads tend to be garish; older ones used in the African trade, such as the so-called Kano beads from Nigeria, are much more attractive. Through wear, they are matt and with worn surfaces. But there are some other older Hebron beads that are both attractive and highly collectible. These are of two shapes, one a rough cylindrical bead decorated with a wavy trailing, within a register; some regard this as a stylized snake (2.68 cm tall). The dating is unclear, some claiming 4th-6th century CE, others 15th-20th, which may be more probable. Another even rarer type is a large donut, with the same wavy decoration but done with more care and of yellow/orange trailing on a black ground. This bead possibly dates even earlier.
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Rare, large donut-shaped glass bead, probably from Hebron or elsewhere in the Near East. Robert K. Liu
Heirloom Beads
Heirloom beads from S.E. Asia. Robert K. Liu
Information to come...
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Heishi
African ostrich eggshell heishi. Cas Webber
Information to come...
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See Also: Clamshell Disk Beads
Vinyl heishi from the African trade. Cas Webber
Hematite
Various shapes of goldstone beads. Robert K. Liu
The name hematite comes from the Greek for “blood” because when the stone is cut the coolant runs red from iron oxide. Uniformly shiny opaque gray iron ore with a metallic luster. Hard and extremely heavy because of its iron content. Mainly sedimentary in origin, hematite also occurs in igneous rocks, especially lavas.
The shiny face of a large hematite crystal was sometimes used as a mirror in ancient times. Because of its somber color, hematite was once fashionable as mourning jewelry. Red ochre derived from hematite serves as a pigment and polishing powder.
The largest deposits are found at Lake Superior in the US, in Quebec in Canada, and in Venezuela, Brazil, and Angola. Most gemstone material comes from sites in Europe as well as Brazil, the US, and New Zealand.
Known as the “warrior stone,” in antiquity hematite was used as an amulet that inspired courage and endurance, and had the power to staunch bleeding. Thought to balance the energy patterns between one’s physical, mental, and spiritual states.
More information to come...
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Hemp Cord
Mid-weight hemp cord for macramé. Cas Webber
Hemp cord is made by twining dried fibers of the hemp plant. It is used mostly for macramé. It comes in various diameters, ranging from .5mm to 2mm and sometimes larger. Choose the diameter that is most appropriate for the size of the bead perforations, bearing in mind that for macramé, several cords may have to fit through the hole of a certain bead in order to complete the design. Thus for macramé, you must also take care to choose appropriate beads.
Hemp comes in a “natural” or a polished finish. The polished kind is more uniform and fray resistant, while the natural boasts an earthy, rustic look. Untreated hemp is light brown to tan in color. It can be dyed other colors.
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Heron Glass
Contemporary chevron bead by Mary Mullaney of Heron Glass.
Robert K. Liu
Information to come...
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See Also: Chevron Beads—Contemporary
High Karat Gold
Indonesian high karat gold beads. Robert K. Liu
Information to come...
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Hill Tribe Silver
Assorted contemporary lined lacque Hill Tribe silver beads from Thailand. Robert K. Liu
Hill Tribe silver strands including cornerless cube and woven metal designs. Robert K. Liu
Contemporary Thai Hill Tribe silver pendant using traditional techniques. Cas Webber
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See: Thai Silver
Himalayan Beads
Collection of classic collectible beads from the Himalayan countries of Nepal and Tibet. Robert K. Liu
Information to come...
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Himalayan Hair Ornaments
Collection of silver and turquoise hair ornaments from Nepal and Tibet with one silver and coral spacer bar. Robert K. Liu
Turquoise and silver Himalayan hair ornament. Robert K. Liu
Information to come...
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Hippo Teeth
Arca clam shell “hippo teeth” beads. Robert K. Liu
“Hippo teeth” beads are large, ivory colored rectangular beads that are perforated lengthwise. Aside from their shape, they have nothing to do with actual hippo teeth. They are cut from the giant Arca clam shell. These beads come from South Africa and have recently become scarce on the market.
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Holland, Tom
Contemporary horned eye bead by Tom Holland. Robert K. Liu
Information to come...
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Horn Beads
Various shapes and sizes of Indian horn beads. Cas Webber
Information to come...
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Black and golden horn beads from India. Robert K. Liu
Horned Eye Beads
Horned eye replica by contemporary glass master Tom Holland. Robert K. Liu
Information to come...
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See Also: Warring States Beads—Glass Imitations
Howlite
Howlite is named after mineralogist Henry How of Nova Scotia, who first described it in the 19th century. Chalky white with gray spots or black or brown veining, porous howlite takes dye well and is often dyed blue to imitate turquoise, lapis or othe more valuable stones.
Main sources include Canada and California, where it typically occurs as rounded white nodules resembling unglazed porcelain.
Thought to aid in mineral absorption. Promotes empathy, kindness, and friendship.
More information to come...
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Hughes, Tory
Information to come...
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See Also: Polymer Clay