In the early 1900's, a smaller bead was introduced in Indian trade goods. They were referred to as "real" beads, "pony" or "pony train" beads because the traders traveled by pony, or "pound" beads because they were sold by the pound.
Faceted, or "cut" beads, appeared in the 1840's. "Bugles" or "rods" were the longer beads of the beadmakers sifter. "Seed" beads were much smaller than the "pony" beads and appeared in the 1850's. They were a product of Venice.
A large seed bead from Czechoslovakia was introduced in the latter part of the century.
In wrapping and object with beads, for example, a calumet, scalp lock or ermine-tail attachment, the object was usually covered with buckskin first. Beads were sewn in with the lazy stitch, about five beads to a stitch.
With the arrival of seed beads (1850's) designs changed.
For more information, read Dress Clothing of the Plains Indians by Ronald P. Koch, University of Oklahoma Press.
