Short Beaded Strap

Ira Blount

A stepped diamond is the central focus of this beaded strap by artist Ira Blount (1918-2020). Glass beads in white, green, blue, yellow, red, and orange create the short strap’s intricate design. Its bold colors and geometric patterns recall artmaking traditions of the American Southwest. With the development of global trade in the sixteenth century, cultures across North America, Africa, and Europe valued glass beads for their aesthetic and monetary properties. Elements of the design evoke diverse influences and speak to beading’s broad reach and appeal throughout the long history of globalization.