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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

In fashion and costume history, pareils appear in inventories, plates, and surviving items that illustrate mantuas,

With the rise of machine-made beads and modern plastics in the 20th century, pareils fell from common

See also: Bead, Seed bead, Pearl imitation.

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.
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.
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.