BSSDC Programs

Bassem Elias - May Program Addresses Ancient Beads

 

 

     The wonders of ancient beads will be the subject of Bassem Elias' exciting presentation at the May 19 meeting of our bead society. He will give a brief overview of the different periods of beadmaking with multiple images of beads to illustrate his talk. Bassem says that the assigned age of beads is constantly being revised as scholars become more knowledgeable and discover more connections between beads and other forms of art from the same periods.

 

     He also will show many examples of fakes being made with varying degrees of success. Bassem notes that the internet has provided a fertile ground for counterfeit beads, so buyers must beware. 

 

     Bassem encourages bead collectors to bring their beads to the meeting both for identification and for show-and-tell.

 

     Bassem's interest in gems and jewelry began on a trip to Nepal and India in the mid-1980s. He subsequently took many classes in faceting and goldsmithing in the Bay area.  He discovered ancient beads in the late '80s and has been hooked ever since.

 

     His main area of expertise is in ancient beads from the Middle East, mostly from the Phoenician period through the Islamic period. He's particularly fascinated by the mosaic beads of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

 

     Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Bassem studied Fine Arts and Architecture at the American University of Lebanon and at U.C. Berkeley. He specialized in Printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute.  Bassem has made his home in California since 1975.

 

     In addition to selling ancient beads and artifacts, Bassem also creates unique pieces of jewelry using ancient elements such as bronze and glass combined with high-carat gold. 

 

     Bassem will have a selection of his jewelry pieces on hand, both for viewing and sale, as well as a selection of beads from his collection and from the collection of James Lankton, author of The Bead Timeline for the Washington Bead Museum.