An archelogical sketch of the original piece I used as my inspiration can be seen on page 269 in The Glass Beads of Anglo-Saxon England c. AD 400-700 by Margaret Guido..

copyright 2000, 2001, Jhan A. Knebel
rixende@timelessbeads.com

Crossed Waves with Dots Beads
Anglo Saxon Glass Beads
400-700 AD

About the Piece

I started making these beads because they are a period style that allows me to practice my technique for applying stringer to beads. Also, I am contributing a glass bead necklace to the Atlantian gift basket for this coming Gulf Wars, and I want to produce a necklace entirely out of Anglo-Saxon glass beads. Examples of this bead style are listed as both blue with white crossed waves and dots and white with blue crossed waves and dots. (Guido, 269)

Production Method

This style of bead is produced by using a hot-head torch and MAPP gas. The glass is heated in the flame until molten and applied to a stainless steel mandrel coated in bead release (slip.)

The first layer of glass is applied to the mandrel and shaped until round . A stringer of glass is then applied in a wave. A second stringer is applied in an opposite direction to form crossed waves. Dots of glass are then applied to the center of each crossed wave section. The whole bead is then heated in the flame to allow the design to melt completely into the surface.

The beads are placed in a fiber blanket for cooling. They will be annealed once I either purchase or gain access to a kiln. In period, a kiln powered by a wood fire and bellows was used. However, I have not had the location available to build a period kiln.

Resources

Guido, Margaret. The Glass Beads of Anglo-Saxon England c. AD 400-700. Rochester, NY: The Boydell Press, 1999