A "Man in the Moon" bead already exists, or would you like to see a silver bead with a Neil Armstrong cane?

What are you now? A Philisopher? A Phantast? Or a bead dealer "in bulk"?

The bead I am looking for is made by Extraterrestrials from "Planet Claire" with a super-sonic torch - visible only in the 6th dimension!

I have various Venetian tablet fish beads, and a few intricate art glass "aquarium" beads ... but that's what I really want.

OK, maybe with a tiny swirl of green "seaweed" to accompany each fish...

Stefany -

I got these from Kris in the 1990s, and assumed they were beads she had purchased in Venice. She made one into a pendant, the silver now tarnished.

However, looking at the holes now, I see white release compound. So maybe Kris made these beads?

They're fat tablets - the pendant is 11mm thick, the other bead 15mm.

Whoever made them - it wasn't Venice!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item-img/Free-Shipping-5Pcs-lot-Fish-Lampwork-charm-glass-beads-in-925-silver-single-core-Fits-Pandora

I had an errand at Petco and hung out in the aquarium section for a bit. Yellow Tangs, Black Mollies (and Maroon Mollies--who knew??), Clownfish....and now,
All these fish beads.

Often new beads were inspired by old beads. For example, Blair's "History of Glass in Japan" frontispiece is a 19th c. glass ojime depicting an "aquarium bead."

The age old concern is whether it is acceptable for a manufacturer to solicit and encourage unwitting dealers. A few bead sellers feel forced to misrepresent in order to survive.

Found pic on internet, hence not very sharp. Also, somehow got flattened....

Nope. Still elongated. But you get the idea...

Beads that encapsulate personal symbols, fragments, mysteries, that when strung together might tell a story - or form a sort of poem.

I think there is a need in the marketplace for good quality face cane beads. I don't mean the crude smiley faces made in red or blue from India. I mean the really great ones made by Roman millefiori techniques, with interesting characters wearing vintage garments, facial hair, hats, etc. I wouldn't want to see those copied. I would want to see contemporary versions featuring people we know from recent history. Rock stars, celebrities, political figures, inspirational figures, wild and crazy looking characters. Brian Kirkvliet of Washington state made some really great cane for awhile of people in his family. Make some of your own. I would love to see that done.

It would take a long time to make a single face cane as elaborate as you describe. Reselling contemporary art glass beads reaches few collectors who will pay over one hundred dollars per bead. Buyers at this level often have a sophisticated eye and would prefer to invest in old beads rather than new ones, if they can.

Brian Kerkvliet is an example, but some others certainly do it too.

I suggest you have a look at the master: Loren Stump, but also Isis Ray, Stephen Boehme, Chris Juedeman and Lori Greenberg.

You will be amazed at the skill, humor, and incredible detail of these modern times glass artists.

This one by Chris Juedeman gives you some idea....

By N. California glass artist John Rizzi! Face canes are amazing. Not to be taken lightly!

Floor, Wow, how is that done?? Very cool.

Joyce, Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the characters I imagined would be good. Thanks for saying face beads are a worthy endeavor. I thought it a good idea to suggest to beadmanT. I imagine there is plenty of room in the market for more face beads.

I think Brian Kerkvliet stopped making cane and is mainly blowing glass now. I loved his characters. I saw one of his beads on a man at the Claremont food co-op. The man knew him personally when Brian was young and was gifted the bead.