Brass Strand of Beads

Patterned barrels and flat dark washers take turns down the strand, never once out of step.

This is a strand of beads. It is brass. Brass beads in a strand are often graded or mixed by size, so the rhythm of the strand is as much a part of the piece as the beads. Cylinders etched with fine diagonal grooves alternate with slim, deep brown rings. The gold shows brightest on the cut lines and dims toward the edges. The strand bends into loops with a chunky end bead tucked at one side.

A metronome in bead form, ticking quietly on black velvet.