Title
The Universal Bead,Used
Sold by Ergodebooks, an authorized reseller.
Returns accepted within 30 days | support@ergodebooks.com
Shipping Information
- Free Standard Shipping — United States only
- Processing Time: 1–3 business days
- Estimated Delivery: 3–5 business days after dispatch
- Double-boxed, fully insured & discreetly packaged
- Tracking number sent via email once dispatched
- Orders over $250 require signature upon delivery. Taxes calculated at checkout.
Returns & Refund
Returns accepted within 30 days of delivery.
Damaged or Defective Item
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Wrong Item Received
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Change of Mind
Return shipping at customer's expense · 25% restocking fee applies
Payment Option
Throughout recorded history, beads have had a powerful allure for people of all ages. Fascinating in their own right, valuable as currency and durable wealth, they have also been endowed with magical properties of protection and enhancement. Responding to a new surge of interest in beads, this reissue edition with all new color plates examines the role of these intriguing objects in human affairs. The first chapter traces the travels of beads by mulepack, caravan, and cargo. Egypt, India, and Mesopotamia were connected by trade routes along which beads were carried. Amber from the Baltic Sea abounded around the preRoman Mediterranean; gifts of beads were used by Columbus and Cortez to achieve their first footing on the American continent.Joan Mowat Erikson gives an account of the use of beads for decoration, as insignia of rank and status, as bearers of magic power, and as currency. She describes the materials out of which beads have been made and the skill used in their production, from the simple gathering of natural beads (berries, nutshells) to the cutting and polishing of colorful stones (turquoise, jade, amber) and the mass production of clay, faience, and glass beads.In a chapter on beads and magic, Erikson discusses beliefs in their power to protect the wearer against the evil eye, increase prowess as hunter and warrior, cure diseases, and ensure luck and favor with the gods, as well as to enhance the potency of man and the fertility of women, livestock, and lands. She concludes with some thoughts on the meaning of beads and their universal appeal.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.