Book - Exotic Beads European Designs by Sara Withers

The earliest beads in Europe were made from similar materials to those used in other areas, starting with bone, shell and amber, eventually progressing into the manufacture of faience and then glass beads. Baltic amber has remained popular throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Another early European specialty was the use of jet from Whitby, which started before 1400 B.C. and reached the peak of its popularity in Victorian Britain.