The first Mardi Gras beads were made of glass. Early bead necklaces used as Carnival throws were valued for their sparkle and craftsmanship, unlike the inexpensive plastic strands common today.
The beads were imported, especially from Japan and Czechoslovakia, whose glassmaking industries produced colorful beads in large quantities. Some early examples were made from mercury glass, a reflective material that gave them a distinctive shine. Glass beads were used in New Orleans parades during the early 20th century.
Plastic eventually replaced glass because it was lighter, cheaper, and much less likely to shatter when thrown from floats. By the 1960s, plastic beads had become the standard throw, allowing krewes to distribute them in far greater numbers.
A common mix-up is confusing the history of beads with the broader history of Mardi Gras throws. Throws began earlier, with gifts and trinkets handed or tossed to crowds in the 1870s. Beads became one of the signature throws decades later, while other traditional items include doubloons, cups, toys, and Zulu coconuts.