Research Question #3

In this blog post, we will answer our third research question:

What degree of manual dexterity is required to make beads? Can just anyone do it, or would you be required to have relatively good health?

Rose:

The degree of manual dexterity required to make beads is very high. Not only is the bead maker required to be able to move their hands in certain ways, but they have to have high endurance. A bead maker would probably make beads for hours on end, so they would have to be healthy. One of the most difficult hand movements was turning the mandrel at a controlled rate when applying the glass. This was especially important for making spiral beads, because once the glass was applied the spiral shape could not be improved. The most difficult aspect of bead making in terms of health is removing the beads from the mandrels, which Angela described in her reflection piece. If someone had joint pain or arthritis, it would be extremely difficult to produce a significant number of beads and it would be almost impossible for them to remove them from the mandrels. All of our arms got tired as well, and we rested our elbows on either side of our propane torches. Since Vikings would have used small kilns (seen below), they might have not had a place to rest their arms. 

Reproduction of a Viking Kiln for Bead Making

In terms of overall health, vision is also important. Small detailed patterns that are a part of the most striking beads (as seen below) would have required good eyesight. 

Viking Glass Bead Necklace include Millefiori Glass Beads in the Center

Therefore, a bead maker would have to have relatively high overall health in order to successfully and continuously manufacture glass beads. 

Angela:

As Rose mentioned, manual dexterity is of utmost importance in beadmaking. This is particularly true when it comes to designs. If someone does not have a high degree of control over even the minutest of movements their hands make while creating the design, some kind of flaw will result, and once the molten glass has been applied to the bead, there is no fixing it. Someone with relatively good health, but with a problem as small as shaky hands, would probably not have been able to be a glass beadmaker. The details seen on some Viking beads are so fine and minute, that there really is not any room for mistakes. Here are some examples of highly detailed beads that illustrate the fine detail I am taking about (note: some of these are reproductions of exact Viking beads, and not the originals): 

 All rights reserved by fireseed

http://www.regia.org/life/glass.htm

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/graphics/pagecontent/eyebeads.gif

Note on the last picture how many layers of 'eyes' are on the centre bead (I have counted 6). This would require the ability to place a dot of glass on the same spot precisely six times. That is a great degree of precision and manual dexterity. Also notice in the pictures above, many of the fine lines that are present on the beads. While applying a glass stringer to a bead seems relatively basic, it requires not only a steady hand, but also the control required that will dictate how thick or thin the line is.  Again I wish to mention the Viking bead found that had an image of a person (itself a difficult design), wearing that same bead. This image is so finely detailed that the bead made on the bead showed many of the same designs, thus being able to be identified as that bead. The amount of skill, fine maneuvering  and precision this would require is just immense. This kind of manual dexterity could only be had by someone who has great health. I find myself to be a pretty healthy person, but even the issues I face (joint pain, slightly shaky hands, need for glasses), would likely have prevented me from being a master beadmaker in the Viking Age. 
   

Emma:  

Application of fine details, including that of lines, dots, and other various designs require both concentration and considerable control over one's body. Maintaining a degree of stability to allow for the development symmetrical designs and shapes requires the craftsperson to reduce the amount of shaking present in their hands and arms (which becomes significantly more challenging the longer the individual is engaged in the bead making process, due to exhaustion), while also monitoring unwanted movement resulting from breathing.

Having proper posture is an additional requirement for glass bead production, as a bent back and downward-curved neck creates bodily strain that would likely eventually result in fewer beads being produced per session, and likely even a shorter bead-making career as permanent injury would likely ensue. Careful consideration of one’s physical well-being is certainly a factor in bead-making, as even asthma in the presence of kiln use would be detrimental to becoming a master craftsperson due to soot and smoke being waste products of the process.

An example of proper posture. A straight back allows for more productive

work, as less strain in imposed on the body.

With the above considerations, in combination with my other group members’ observations, dexterity and health is of substantial significance to the production of quality beads. Illness or frailness would likely have been factors limiting those of the Viking Age to the rolls of assistants and common craftspeople, rather than masters.

Krista:

I would have to agree with Rose, Angela and Emma. The manual dexterity needed to make beads is very high. It is important for a bead maker to be able to use both hands for possibly hours at a time, constantly turning the mandrel and possibly creating designs, which all require a steady hand. Good health is also an important factor, especially in the hands and arms. Weak muscles, bones and/or joints in the hands/arms, or even hands/arms prone to injury (such as tendinitis), would not be good for a beadmaker. Beadmaking takes a lot out of the upper body, from holding the mandrels and glass rods/stringer to maintaining your posture to prevent a bad neck/back (as Emma pointed out). It is also important to remember that the Vikings would have been using a furnace that they would have had to feed oxygen to with bellows. If they did not have someone else to work the bellows, they would have had to do this as well to constantly keep the oxygen flowing (to maintain the correct temperature). This means they would have to have strong legs!

As we have proven, anyone can attempt beadmaking and be successful at making nice glass beads (if I do say so myself!). But, it would be hard for a professional beadmaker to have low manual dexterity or poor health in the hands/arms and be successful. Would just anyone be able to make glass beads during the Viking Age? Probably, if they had access to a furnace, glass, tools and instruction. But, to be successful one would have to have good overall health, and great manual dexterity.