Mudlarked bead drop earrings

Historical Information

Type: Beads
Fabric: Clay and Wood
Date: Victorian
Find Location: The Thames Estuary, UK

Extra Information:

These beads came from the Thames Estuary. They were found on separate mudlarking trips to the estuary in Essex.

A little history of beads:
The earliest beads were made from naturally available materials such as bone, shell, wood, and stone, as these were simple to use, easy to source, and widely accessible. Bead-making in ancient times was a skilful and labour-intensive craft. The earliest clay beads were formed by rolling soft natural clay by hand and then drying it in the sun. These beads were later improved by firing or baking the clay to harden them and reduce breakage. Around 3,000 BC, glazes and pigments were added to clay beads in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.