17th Century: beaded silk purse

Beads and pearls embroidered on silk, on both sides, 6×6 inches. English.

From: The Needle’s Excellency and Other Textiles (Publisher: Mallett, London, 1997)

17th Century: Spangled ruff in Portraits of Doña Ana de Velasco y Girón

She must have loved this amazing ruff with dangling silver pointed spangles, this looks like the same one and same person over a few decades! Must have ben her signature item.

 

14th Century: Sudarium with Spangles

photo from: http://www.wkneedle.org/stars-spangles-studs/

I am seeking more info on this piece, I am guessing it to be 13-14th century.

Unlike Bezants (brakteats) which are like one sided stamped coins with intricate designs, spangles are usually plain and are hung from holes and sparkle.

17th Century: Flinderhaube

This is from a SCA researcher, who did a rather spectacular bit of research into those amazing gold German cauls you see often. Sometimes they look like beads, but sometimes they don’t, and here is a bit of info on what they are!

I will just send you there since it’s not entirely beads, even though a decorative thing with a hole technically qualifies, but it is late to post period so – off you go!

Flinderhaube – project documentation