Pareils

Pareils are historical small glass beads used in European beadwork and trimming. The term derives from the French pareil, meaning equal or alike, reflecting their uniform size and appearance. Pareils were commonly employed to imitate pearls on garments and accessories and to create decorative patterns in embroidery, fans, reticules, and jewelry.

Historically, pareils were manufactured in several European centers from the 17th through the 19th centuries, with notable production in Bohemia and northern Italy. They were sold loose or in strand packs and came in a range of colors, though white and pale tones were common for pearl-like effects. Their regular size made them particularly suitable for geometric and repeating motifs in dress and decorative needlework.

In fashion and costume history, pareils appear in inventories, plates, and surviving items that illustrate mantuas, gowns, and accessories of the period. They are often discussed in the context of historical beadwork techniques and the materials available to artisans of the time.

With the rise of machine-made beads and modern plastics in the 20th century, pareils fell from common use, though examples remain in museum collections and in vintage needlework. They are of interest to costume historians as indicators of textile technology, trade networks, and stylistic preferences in past fashion.

See also: Bead, Seed bead, Pearl imitation.