Decorative work made by threading or sewing beads onto fabric, string, or thread; ornamental designs created with beads.
From bead plus work (meaning labor, craft, or product of labor). This straightforward compound describes the craft or product of working with beads. Beadwork has ancient roots across many cultures and became especially popular in Europe during medieval and Victorian periods.
Beadwork became almost an obsession in Victorian times—ornate beaded purses, cushions, and clothing were status symbols, and the painstaking nature of hand-beading made each piece both a treasure and a meditation on patience.
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