THE HISTORY OF BEADS: From 30,000 B.C....

THE HISTORY OF BEADS: From 30,000 B.C. to the Present by Lois Sherr Dubin (Abrams: $19.95; 136 pp.). Beads are one of the most ancient forms of human ornament, dating back 40,000 years. This striking book surveys a wide range of beads, from carved natural materials--amber, pearl and stone--to metalwork and the colorful varieties of glass beads produced around the world.