Joseph Fergerson, age 10, of Wilmington, Del., for his question:

WHERE DID THE ANCIENT INDIANS FIND THEIR BEADS?

Beads have been used as clothing decorations by the American Indians since prehistoric times. Their beads were traditionally made of small pieces of copper, turquoise or quartz and were found in various places across the land. Indians in some of the tribes also used seeds and shells. Some early Indian craftsmen used beads in combination with porcupine quills.

Bead embroidery goes back to the days of ancient Egypt. Also, the ancient people in Oriental countries often used small pieces of mirrored glass in place of precious stones or beads.

Archaeologists tell us that the American Indians also did bead embroidery in the prehistoric days. We know that the Indians practiced the art of beadwork for centuries before Europeans introduced manufactured beads which were used in trade.

During all of the early years, Indian beads were handcraftred. The Indians sewed beads to skins or cloth and also often wove them on looms. Tribes in the Mississippi area sewed with needles while the Indians of the plains used the woven method. The beads were usually strung on short threads and then sewed to the skins or cloth.

Indian craftsmen developed abstract designs which were usually symbolic. A triangle or semicircle stood for rain, a disk for the sun and a zig zag for lightning.

Medicine men best reflected the symbolic character of Indian beadwork with the designs on their pouches, medicine bags, blankets and mats.

Indian craftsmen achieved uniform spacing of the beadwork by stringing an exact number of beads or by counting the beads on the string according to color so that the patterns could be worked in proper sequence. Western tribes used the "laid" method of solidly massed rows of brightly colored beads on their clothes.

In France during the 1600s, sable beadwork became famous. This type of work used beads that were as fine as grains of sand and they were sewn with fine strands of black hair.

During the 1800s, American women often combined wool needlepoint with beadwork.

Also during the 1800s, beadwork was used to make bracelets, brooches, earrings and other costume ornaments. Glass beads of various colors and shapes were also used to produce mosaic designs.

Waxed sewing silk of fine twisted cotton was also used for stitching the beads into velvet bands which were worn on the wrist or neck.

During the first years of the 1900s, it became very popular to decorate beadwork on fine materials. Beads were embroidered on sheer silk georgette or chiffon during the 1920s with the dresses being very fashionable for afternoon or evening wear. The beadwork was also used to create decorative motifs on sweaters and gloves as well as dresses.