Page beads have a very distinctive shape, commonly called "melon-shape" (though pumpkin would be more accurate). They are glass paste beads of various hues, the most common being shades of blue, green and yellow. Quite common in Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet, they originate from further North in China. From the Tang dynasty onwards, China has acquired a worldwide reputation and a leading influence on the art of glass bead making. Though the Chinese did not flood the trading markets with other countries with these beads, glass melon-shaped beads have been found in various cultures as far as New Guinea where, till recently, they were used as trade currency. In making Glass the Chinese used lead-barium formula which makes it more brillant, easier to cut and easier to remelt. It also makes much softer and heavier Beads than contemporary soda-lime glass produced in Europe.

The Taniis use page beads for making various necklaces, interspersed with other beads or forming separate rows. A single strand of Chinese melon-shaped glass paste beads of light-blue hues is known as sampyu page and is one of their favourite necklaces.

Tanii language differentiates at least 8 types, according to the hue, size and appearance :

• santer page : light blue/turquoise, opaque, big.
• sampyu page : light blue/turquoise/jade green, opaque, small
• saro page : dark or light blue, slightly translucent/medium size
  
• sankhe page : blue or dark blue, slightly translucent, small
  
• horpu page : crystal-like, translucent, medium size
  
• bilun page : terracota, brownish yellow, slightly translucent, medium size
  
• pike page : amber, brownish, slightly translucent, medium size
  
• halan page : light blue, opaque, small
  

sankhe page











bilun page