Photos

Comments

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  Preethi February 20, 2013 at 4:01pm

  These could be Indian millefiori. Link to some similar beads

   
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  Frankie Carter February 20, 2013 at 4:24pm

  The thing is, Preethi, they just don`t look the same as the Indian millefiori beads in your link (thank you). Nor do they look like millefiore slag/end-of-day beads.

  They are clearer in my following detail photos. Sorry about the poor quality of this one.
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  francesca palermo patera February 20, 2013 at 4:30pm

  I don't think so...
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  Frankie Carter February 20, 2013 at 4:34pm

  Thanks, Francesca. Always happy to learn.
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  Preethi February 20, 2013 at 4:55pm

  Hi Frankie, perhaps post the image onto beadcollector.net? One of the members of that site had a blog post comparing venetian beads and their distant cousins. It's a very informative one: http://beadmuseum.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/millefiori-trade-beads-f...

  There was also a discussion on that site that referred to the Indian bead industry buying venetian cane in bulk to use in their beads. From that discussion, it seems that perforation would be the way to ID these beads. I'd love to hear what you learn.
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  Frankie Carter February 20, 2013 at 5:11pm

  What a good idea, Preethi! How interesting to learn that about the Indian bead industry buying Venetian cane in bulk. I wonder if it was old or new cane. Anyway, lets see......
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  Frankie Carter February 23, 2013 at 10:20am

  For Preethi and interested others.

  I`ve checked out BCN ( I note a certain level of "cut and thrust" on that site.... unlike our own, dear EJ ning!!).There was quite a lot of relevant material to see but, in the end, it was Preethi`s link which proved most valuable.

  The points indicating that the large round beads are made in India are that they are large, they are dark in colour and they have a large perforation. The points against them being made in India are that there is no white residue round the perforation, the placement of the canes looks reasonably well considered, the size of the canes is quite small - better seen in following photos. I`m not sure about the brick red beads or the old white wound glass beads.

  However, all in all, although the points I`ve found for and against are equal, I`ve plumped for them being Indian. Certainly no-one tried to persuade me otherwise at point of sale.