Necklace c. 20th century

This necklace, maker unknown, lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Just imagine the patient handiwork that went into stringing all these turquoise and green beads together. You can almost feel the smooth, cool touch of each tiny stone as it's picked up and placed just so. I wonder about the person who made this, what they were thinking as they worked, maybe just enjoying the simple act of creation, finding a rhythm in the repetition. The beads themselves are so tactile and different in shape – some are round, some like little chips, others long like tiny fingers. It reminds me of the way painters like to play with texture, building up layers, each bead catching the light a little differently, creating a kind of visual music. Whether they knew it or not, this artist was part of a long line of makers, each inspired by the last, each adding their own personal touch. And who knows, maybe someone will look at this necklace someday and find their own inspiration, starting the whole cycle all over again.