Beaded Doorway

Artist Unknown

Overall, this beaded work is a mystery to me. However, although I have little information regarding the origins of this piece, there is no doubt it is an amazing piece of artwork. I venture to guess it was used at an entrance way for a celebration.

I bought this piece at an auction in Scottsdale and did not realize how large and heavy it was until I unfurled it. The delicately woven patterns of Venetian glass beads depict figures of human beings and animals. The precise tension of the weaving, something that can be felt as you run your hands over the beads, makes this a masterfully crafted piece of art. Few beaded works exhibit such fine craftsmanship. Because of the nature of bead trades, however, the exact age of the beaded doorway cannot be determined. These beads could be hundreds of years old.