Hi Uwe
This is definitely a 19th century European bell-pull - we have them in collections and museums over here. The beads are Bohemian 'sprengperlen' translating as 'broken beads' and in their simplest form are just that - broken tubes. Some of them have much more straight-cut ends and can also be silver- or colour-lined.

The more 'upmarket' tubes are (like Mel H said) akin to the 'Russian' blues - often pentagonal or hexagonal in cross-ection and often multilayered.

We recently spoke about Waltrad Neuwirth's book 'Perlen aus Gablonz' and the Society of Bead Researchers reprinting of the English section in there - this book has a terrific amount of information about these beads, including images of hanks and strands and amazing colours.

They are also found in NW native american pieces, and the Bead Soc of GB has recently been told about some good pieces in the Royal Alberta Museum in Ontario.

I'll try and dig out some other images. This would make a good thread.

Cheers
Carole