Historically, beads have been admired as jewelry and studied as artifacts of bygone cultures, but rarely have they drawn the die-hard devotion of Trollbeads.

Some of that trendsetting is coming from one of Mattapoisett’s own shops, and it’s drawing people from across the globe with Trollbeads Fest 2012.

Created in 1976 in Denmark, Trollbeads became the trendsetters for charm bracelets with small, handmade beads of silver, glass and precious jewels that could be used in different combinations on a bracelet or necklace.

Roger’s Gallery, located on Route 6, began selling the beads seven years ago.

“I found the product to be more artistic than any of the other bead brands,” said owner Louise Rogers. “The people that design them are jewelry artisans in Europe and it’s still family owned, which I really liked.”

Before long the company’s Trollbeads Gallery became the largest dealer in North America, selling hundreds of designs from its Route 6 location and online.

It’s also become a hub of internet activity for the brand.

The Trollbeads Gallery Facebook page has 23,006 likes, and through www.Trollbeadsgallery.com, Rogers has created a forum with over 3,000 collectors and enthusiasts who discuss the products, share photos of their designs and become friends.

“People that collect Trollbeads really love them and are really passionate about collecting them,” said Rogers.

With Trollbeads Fest 2012, Rogers brought fans face-to-face for the third year. Held in New Bedford, Rogers expected approximately 150 participants.

“Collectors from all over the world come to this event,” said Rogers. “We had people coming from Wales, the Netherlands and Australia in years past. There’s nothing quite like this.”

Beginning Saturday, October 6 the two-day event included demonstrations by Trollbeads artists and a workshop to help bead photographers hone their skills. The company’s CEO also made an appearance, as did a bevy of unique and hard-to-find beads.

“It’s a good time. The camaraderie between the collectors and staff here is really fun,” said Penni Stackpole, an employee at Roger’s Gallery. “The collectors really love these very small pieces of artwork.”