The history of woodbeads and their rule in creating jewelry designs

Wooden beads, there are almost as many as the sand on the sea and they are an indispensable element in modern jewelery making. They , ojime. The most important suppliers of wooden beads are China, Philippines and India nowadays. Olive wood supplier in the Middle East, Lebanon and Israel and Palestine.

Boxwood from China

In China, the economic boom has led to a remarkable activity in the manufacture of jewelry accessories, beads and gemstone strands. Large amounts of wood beads in different sizes, shapes and colors are made from the locally grown boxwood. This slow-growing wood is because of its hardness and density an ideal material for turnery. In Central Europe, boxwood has become rare and is therefore quite expensive. This does not apply to Chinese boxwood beads, they are inexpensive to purchase in proportion.

A traditional crafts in China are carvings. Again, making boxwood because of its density good service: it does not splinter. 

Ojime and Netsuke

Originally from Japan, and carved out of ivory, were made early Ojime and netsuke in China. Both served in the past as a closure for a small box ( inro ) in which , for example, tobacco and nibs were housed . The box is drawn with a cord and the Ojime pearl was pushed this over the cord down. The netsuke were followers who were attached to the end of the cords so that they could not slip through the hole in the Ojime and so the box was opened. The box is worn on kimono and therefore much attention has been paid to the decorative effect. Ojime carvers respected artists , some of whom came to a considerable celebrity. Each Ojime and Netsuke been marked with the mark of the artist and the more famous the artist , the more respected was the bearer of his Ojime . Chinese artists have largely taken over the Japanese motifs. Since the global ban on the ivory trade mid-80s of the last century Ojime and netsuke are mainly made of boxwood.

Ojime,Netsuke, Imre


Woodbeads from the Philippines

Kamagong Holzperlen

Wooden beads from the Philippines consist mainly of exotic woods, which have also obtained in connection with the rainforest deforestation notoriety. Whether he / she uses such beads, everyone likes agree with itself, but it should be said that the wood for beads usually wood waste from the manufacture of other items such as furniture and garden furniture, flooring is and the like. These wooden beads are due to their grain and color usually very attractive and work best polished. Mentioned here is, for example, Ironwood, tiger ebony or Makkassar, Kamagong and Banghaw.


Woodbeads from India

Rudraksha Holzperlen- Samen rot gefärbt

Wood beads have a long tradition in India and play an important role in religious rites and forms of expression.
Here are primarily Rudraksha and Sandelholzperlen mentioned.

Rudraksha trees and seeds in India are considered sacred . According to legend, are the Rudraksha for the benefit of humanity shed tears of Shiva . The name comes from the Sanskrit , there is the word " rud " the name given to " cry " and " aksha " refers to the "eye" . There are different versions about the cause of the tears shed , the most common says that Shiva shed tears over the debt from the ego of the human misery.

Sandalwood is especially appreciated for its good smell and often used for meditation and prayer chains. The sandalwood tree is grown mainly in eastern India. The typical sandalwood odor , a globally sought-after flavor is formed only in trees that are 25 years or older.

Moreover, in India there are beautifully carved beads of ebony and rosewood . The motifs are taken mainly from the long Mughal tradition with former Persian origin.

Rosenholz Perlen

Ebenholz Perlen mit Messingdraht verziert


Olive Wood Beads

Olivenholz Perlen lackiert

From Lebanon, Israel and Palestine beautifully grained olive wood beads come to us.

For these beads must not a single tree to die, because the beads are made ​​from the resulting annual average work of the olive trees.

The eye-catching and attractive grain of pearl speaks for itself, so the beads are usually smooth, oval or round and mirror polished.