Hi Billy,
Large Edo Period glass beads (larger than one inch) are sometimes -but rarely- found on large inro or tobacco pouches. The round one with green squiggles is quite beautiful in my opinion.
Having specialized in ojime for forty years, I find that the cylindrical one with rounded ends is not Edo Period for too many good reasons. Although this silhouette was popular during the Edo Period, and even though the black spiral cane is well done and well placed, everything else is wrong: The shades of blue, white and clear glass are not the right colors. The perimeter of the aperture is jagged. Also, the surface of the glass is too shiny and has a few waves in it.
Importantly, I doubt that Edo Period craftsmen would accidentally omit a "puckered," "dimpled," or "beveled" aperture. Classically, this ambitious bead -which has a large hole and therefore probably intends to look like an ojime- should not abrade the cord which passes through it...The literal translation for the Japanese word "ojime" is slide closure. Even if the bead in question were not intended for usage as an ojime, a well made Japanese bead would traditionally have a countersunk hole.
Just Fred
The sharp perimeter around the aperture puzzles me...This is so unlike Japanese glass beads in general…At one time beads were made on order in China for Japanese merchants. Perhaps this was one of them. There are many examples illustrating this confusion. I know that some of us own doubtful "ojime" which will illustrate this detail. Anyone?
Just Fred
Dear Fred, do these fit the bill? I have taken a couple more that show the aperture better, I will post if they would be helpful. The apertures are definitely countersunk, it seems like one side slightly more so than the other. The way the cord has abraded them makes the edges very soft. Not sure they are technically ojime, but they're glass of the Edo period I think.
I love both of the beads bsteinberg shows, so beautiful! Just my two cents from my very untrained eye, but the one on the left seems loosely made compared to the one on the right. Everything about the bead on the right, from basic shape to the inter-twined threads, is tighter. It seems more artfully done in general? -Mel
the darker bead was not being very photogenic, and my camera is about to give up the ghost, please forgive the lousy picture quality
