Beads were widely used during the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan, and Tonbo Dama is a type of glass bead with a complex pattern that resembles the eyes of insects like a dragonfly. In Japanese, “tonbo” means “dragonfly” and “dama” means “bead” - hence the beads’ name. Tonbo Dama are typically made using a lampworking technique; the artisan melts a glass rod with a torch, wraps it around a steel rod, then carefully shapes and decorates it by adding colors and patterns using other glass rods or powders. Each one is unique.