Because although spools now are simple tubes, old wooden spools had those 'expanded ends' that look so similar to these beads.
I've collected a lot of old spools, so that shape is familiar to me.
Other descriptions were more vague, to me. BUT....I'm also the least 'literate' on bead shapes. :^D
Charles and Ray Eames designed for the Time-Life Building in New York:
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/stools/mid-century-wood-stool-side-table-charles-ray-eames/id-f_5376893/ The stool that most resembles your beads is called "Stool C."
I would call them crenelated, or pleated cylinders - but that's just me.
LD
or piled pancakes?
or centrally conjoined lentil beads?
laterally grooved?
i recognise them as handmade lampworked indian glass bead shapes. the only trouble with 'segmented' is that oranges have segments, like melon beads, divided parallel to the axis...
