Valerie Hector The art of beads: historical inspiration, contemporary design (ISBN 0-8320-0307-8) is an interesting combination of historical and cultural analysis of various bead-making traditions and the presentation of works by modern designers who drew inspiration from these traditions.
There are numerous books on contemporary bead designs, as well as many histories of bead making (which can go back as far as 75,000 years, see http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news
/2004/04/0415_040415_oldestjewelry.html
The book discusses a number of ethnic and historical beadwork traditions:
Each chapter has a brief overview of the historical beading tradition, sometimes with fascinating anecdotes (I liked the one about the “bead trees” the beads supposedly came from), followed by projects by contemporary beading artists based on in each of these traditions. Each project is shown with detailed photos and diagrams.
The general impression is one of awe at the incredible creativity of the human mind that has turned these small objects into dazzling and amazing creations in so many cultures and so many periods. Even if you’re not interested in recreating any of the designs featured here, The art of beads It is a fascinating book that you will likely return to again and again.