I know how the Chinese feel about their birds so you could be right. I purchased the most outrageous all carved bird cage in 1987 and hand carried it back on the plane, ended up selling it but it sure was amazing. I have also witnessed the many Chinese at parks carrying their bird cages with birds so they can get some sunshine (what little of it there is).

If in fact these beads are from dynastic times, with the way things were some high official may have commissioned/ordered a great glass maker to produce them in a not to large quantity. You may be right about the time the Japanese were there, but you would think with a bead this wonderful some would have been seen on their market in the past 60-70 years.

I hope someone on this forum will give us some sort of a clue, I know we have more than a few Chinese lurkers/posters so one on them may shed some light on this topic.

I have only seen this type bead from those Fred has and the 7 on the brush I have.

All my best .......... Danny

P.S. When you put an image seems more people look. Another of my Chinese turquoise cabs.