Glass beads are one of the treasures of the Paiwan tribe. From oral legends, these beads magically appeared in the wilderness, and today their origins remain unclear. As there were no records left on how to make these beads or the materials that were used, Paiwan artists in Sandimen Township in Taiwan’s southern Pingtung County have carried out research to re-create them, each one with a special motif and meaning, such as an eye, feathers of a peacock, the lily flower or tears of the sun. These artists have also been working to apply these motifs to more contemporary, but still handmade, glass bead works. Some of these are exquisite art pieces such as the large oval black and orange bead at the center of this necklace. Two tassels are connected at the bead closure and can be worn in front or back, making this a unique accessory. Women of the Paiwan nobility traditionally wore glass bead necklaces with silver ornaments hanging down the back. This design recalls that tradition. In addition, the tassel ends are made from small handmade gold and black beads and look very similar to millet bunches. Millet was traditionally grown as a staple grain by most of Taiwan’s indigenous tribes.