The yellow satin glass is Czech. It's pretty with the pink glass. The others are probably Czech too. Not from India. The Japanese made crumb foil beads too, but that one looks Czech.

Satin glass on left, Czech. Middle, hard to pin secure guess, but going Czech. Can't rule out Japan for foil on the right, but could be Czech.

I think all could be Czech, considering technique and style.
However, after the trip you and I took to Paris and looking at some more French lampwork beads, I would not be surprised if the middle one is French.
Last one could be Czech or Japanese.

Maybe you should make this a poll, and let the most votes count.

Yes, it would be lovely to learn more about French beads. I too wondered that about the second bead because it is unusual, but I had nothing to compare.

http://www.illusionjewels.com/LouisRousseletjewelry.html

I realize this series of posts has been referred to multiple times, but that's how we review, and how we familiarize new members with searching the archive, which is bursting with great images and info.

And yes, I'd also love to see even more documented French beads.

Here's a link full of wonderful past posts....

But here was my vote a few minutes ago. And the more I look, the more I feel convinced that the center bead is Japanese too.

Some of the beads I've observed that were highly pinched poked and prodded were made in Japan. I agree the shape seems very Japanese. It's the satin glass that makes me think Czech, mainly because I haven't seen much of it on Japanese necklaces.

In 1971, I began collecting beads by taking apart Japanese glass necklaces from the 1950's.

"Japan" was embossed into the brass clasps. They were single, double or triple strands, about fifteen inches long. Usually there were three or five fancy beads serving as focal points. And these were the ones I set aside for designers. And this is how I developed an intuition for identification of post-WWII Japanese glass beads.

In 1971, I thought fifty cents was "a chunk of change" to pay for a single bead such as these. I asked the woman who bought them from me: "Why?" She said she redesigned an entire necklace around them for resale. I asked her to work for me. She worked and traveled with me for many years. We even traveled to London, staying at the Grosvenor House, to exhibit Ojime at a Netsuke Convention.

I have always been especially fond of Japanese beads of all sorts.

I've been known to harvest choice beads from Made in Japan necklaces. I bought one last week for 8 purple beads. However, I can't come close to the rest of your story!

And now I'm curious about all the Japanese bead necklaces from the 1950's that Fred & Birdi mention. Looking through eBay, I could not find very many vintage Japanese glass bead necklaces - are they a scarce commodity? And, are there any references or bead cards that would show some of the varieties of beads from this genre?

Ah gee, I knew someone would ask and I'd have to share my 'secret' after I mentioned it. Heehee.

These are the type necklaces my grandmother favored. She had a number of them. They are typically graduated strands of mixed beads, in multiple layers. It was a very challenging art form as those of us who try to assemble beads for necklaces can understand. She bought some of her necklaces from church members who collected beads and designed necklaces... a cottage industry of the era. Others were from department stores and were made in Germany and Japan.

They often were a mix of glass with plastic and other lightweight materials. Japanese necklaces often contain cotton pearls.

As a teen, I was interested in glass beads but shunned plastic. My mom sold grandmother's necklaces at a yard sale. I would have kept some but I thought they were all plastic. The first woman in the door scooped up all the jewelry, delighted with her treasure. I told her they were plastic, but she said "oh no, there is lots of glass in there". I felt ashamed I didn't know the difference, that I had let grandmother's necklaces get away. I spent much effort over the years after that teaching myself to tell glass (and stone and shell) from plastic.

All these years later, I realize my interest is in creating mixed bead necklaces, especially graduated sizes. I prefer one or two strand necklaces. I still shun plastic, and I try to create interesting strands with only glass or stone.

I'm not sure my exact plans for these purple beads. I'll leave the necklace intact for now. I paid $17 for these 8 beads, but there are some clear twisted glass beads to harvest as well.

I'm curious... what was your business, the one where you hired a woman with knowledge about Japanese beads?

In my early twenties I began as "Frederick's Antiques." In my mid twenties, I became "The Beadologist." And now I am just using my full name.

The woman who helped me would string and design necklaces beautifully. She traveled with me to set up shows and help in every way possible. I was pleased to see her again last year, when she stopped by to say hello at the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza.

I feel we both have the highest respect for our past. And, I wish we could do it all again in the same way. It was wonderful. There is nothing better than being young, healthy and in love with your work.

I really admire that story. In my young 20s I was really wanting to find something like that to be passionate about that would also earn a living. Where did you sell your antiques in the early days? I can see how that occupation might lead you to the beaded trail. That's great you two are still friends after all these years.

I wish I had found my way to bead collecting much earlier. It was finding a special Venetian bead that sparked my greater interest, and a subscription to Ornament magazine that lead me further, much further, down the path, to the Picard's bead sheets and books, this before the internet.

Learning about vintage beads was one thing. Finding them to buy was quite another.

We have a local antique mall. There are various types of of shops including co-op shops. No one there seems to have much bead interest. There is one seller with a lot of faceted rhinestone type jewelry who might occasionally have some wedding cake beads.... but that's about it. Oh, and there was a woman who had some trade bead strands, but... odd story.... I was about to buy those same strands from a thrift store glass case, but she managed to elbow me out of the way with an employee in tow and take them from me... or that's how I saw it. I could never bring myself to buy her white crosses or the others, knowing they should have been mine at the thrift store price. hee hee... bead intrigue.

OK, I must be way off-topic by now.... good night

birdi,

1. In answer to your question: "Where?" ~We drove up and down America's West Coast doing Antiques Shows -from Vancouver to San Diego. We sold mostly in San Francisco and Los Angeles. I shopped in London. Became known for the elusive ojime.

2. In the 90's took a ten year break from beads; worked in a family office equipment business in Silicon Valley. Reinvented myself traveling in Asia from 2000-2010. Shopped mainly in Beijing, Bangkok and Bali. Eventually achieved "Million Mile Flyer" status on United Airlines.

3. The novelty of travel has worn off. And I am less resilient. My old customers have passed away. So, I am thinking of becoming an ingénue seller on ebay. -Still a trouper after all these years, I am preparing myself for Act Three of this three act play.

Summarizing may have made my bead adventures seem like a breeze. But I have also experienced my fair share of stormy weather.

birdi, your curiosity brought back happy memories…Thanks for asking,

Fred