[MR] Gemstone Beads?

[Towey, Brian]

Friends and neighbors-

May I draw upon the encyclopedic knowledge of the group?  I'd like to know
if and how gemstone beads were used in period, particularly for embroidery
in my focus periods of 14th and 16th C western Europe.

I've found a bargain source for bead necklaces in various precious and
semi-precious stones.  It occurs to me that such beads might be very pretty
if they were cut from their strands and embroidered onto an SCA doodad.
With enough colors, they might even be used to make a picture or heraldic
device.

Your servant,

Charles Fleming