While the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show was taking place in January, Finfan showed a group of beads he had purchased, that included a green chevron bead. I initially identified this as an unusual Venetian specimen..., until we were subsequently was shown its cross section—whereupon it became clear it was a new bead from India.

These are the two images Finfan showed us.

JDA.

Here's a bead I documented in 1988, that is a green-exterior, floral interior Venetian bead. We see it in profile and cross section.

Compare the profile view to Finfan's profile view. Pretty similar.

However, the cross sections reveal how different they really are.

JDA.

Carl asked me to post an image of a revival 7-layer chevron bead. So here's one I documented in 2001. Although I took several photos, none turned out terrifically well. Nevertheless, in the cross-section view we can count all the layers and see the core layers that are similar to early (16th C.) chevron beads. The bead is somewhat beat-up, but looks pretty modern.

Back when Michael Heide was alive (so before 1994), he showed me a 7-layer bead and said he was convinced it was a modern bead. I certainly saw his point. I expect I must have a photo of this bead too, but I can't locate it at the moment.

If I think of anything elkse to add to this series, I may do that.

Have a good day. Jamey

Anne posted! So, wouldn't you say that hers is indeed an old authentic 9 layer bead and not a revival bead that is obviously new looking???????

Hello Jamey,

This is an interesting bead. Please tell us the date of manufacture of this bead. I will assume that it is Venetian.

The "revival" aspect of this is fascinating. Were there many of these made? How long did the revival period last? What market were they made for? Why do you think it happened?

Thanks again for posting this bead.

Best regards,

Carl

Come on Carl....

"Please tell us the date of manufacture of this bead."

Unless one makes a bead oneself, it is very unlikely anyone would have such information. It is—like MOST modern chevron beads—a late 19th to early 20th C. Venetian bead.

"I will assume that it is Venetian."

Good call. Who else would have made it?

"Were there many of these made?"

Apparently not if I've only seen two in thirty-nine years, and you've seen none.

"How long did the revival period last?"

You're joking, right?

"What market were they made for?"

I don't know. How many markets are there?

"Why do you think it happened?"

Why do I thint WHAT happened?

JDA.

Jamey,

I posed these questions to you for your opinion so I am surprized at your sarcastic answers. My intent was not to make your feel like your pushed in a corner or put on the spot. I was looking for answers based on what you brought up.

Having never heard of this "revival period" your comments made me very curious. I was solicting your opinion on this.... why YOU think it may have started, how long YOU think it may have lasted, when YOU think it started. What's wrong with that?

Carl

Chicken soup (for the soul also wouldn't be a bad idea at this point) and a very stiff drink.

Failing health is a reason for a short temper, but not an excuse. Not in public, anway. Save the grousing for the weeds and the bad mannered family members and pets. In public, you gotta put on a better front.

I hope the gods smile upon you Jamey and bring back the warmth and positive attitude I remember. I miss you.

I don't pretend to understand most of what you write regarding bead history, but I love reading it and I love the photos you post.

Be gentle with us, my friend. We're students, collectors, admirers, and trying to get through the day, too.

Jamey,
Are all of these considered "Overlay" beads ? All are white or yellow hearts.Also a common everyday red white heart eye bead & a double row eye bead.Also some Faceted beads.Do they have too have that outer clear layer ?
Patrick.

The large round yellow heart:Yellow,red,very thin clear rose.
Patrick.

Hi Patrick,

This is a wound overlay bead. The "heart" beads are drawn beads--such as "white-heart" and "green-heart" beads. The world would be a (slightly) less confusing place if people would not apply the names from one type of bead to another type of bead. A "yellow-heart" would be a drawn cornaline d'Aleppo with a yellow core layer and translucent red or reddish exterior.

I don't know of any wound overlay beads that have a "thin clear rose" exterior layer. Are you certain this is there (?); and are you certain it is glass and not something like a lacquer to make a dull bead shiny again—or something like that?

Among early drawn Venetian trade beads, there is a type that features a clear-white-clear layer sequence. They intitially appear to be white or grayish-white pony beads. However looking closely, you can see they have a clear exterior, that gives both a grayish cast to the color, and an enlarging/changing aspect to the look of the surface (because the clear glass acts as a magnifier). Occassionally, some early green-heart beads also have clear exteriors (translucent green-brickred-clear). Other than these, a clear glass exterior was not typical on most rounded drawn beads. With wound beads it's even more rare, because it would be a lot of work to make a very thin over-layer of glass onto a wound bead. It would be easier to make a thick overlayer (as with sommerso beads). So I would be surprised to think that your otherwise typical-looking Venetian overlay beads have this—as you propose. How did you determine this layer is there?

Jamey

Jamey,
You did see my correction on the layers ? Any way, my bead is then a wound overlay bead w/ a yellow core & an outer translucent rose red core.It does not have any lacquer on the bead."How do I know it is there".... You can see it.Many 5 layer Rosetta star beads have a clear outer layer & most that do determines a 5 layer from a 4 layer bead.See example of a five layer w/ a translucent clear outer layer.
Patrick.

Hi Patrick,

I was composing my reply EXACTLY WHEN you posted your reply. So, no, I didn't see it untl my reply was posted. (You can figure out these things by looking at the time stamps for any particular post—remembering that I am a terrible typist, stop to check details and information, and take a L O N G time to post most anything.)

The layers on wound overlay beads are not "thin." I would have been confused by your characterization anyway, if I hadn't already been confused by your suggestion that the bead had yellow, red, and rose layers--of which the last was "thin."

What? "...an outer translucent rose red core." What on earth are you talking about? What is an "outer core"?

"Many 5 layer Rosetta star beads have a clear outer layer & most that do determines a 5 layer from a 4 layer bead.See example of a five layer w/ a translucent clear outer layer."

Yes Patrick some do. But THESE ARE DRAWN BEADS. There is no point in confusing the issue by comparing unrelated beadmaking types.

Jamey

Not really.You know I say some dumb things at times, we all do. But ......
"and are you certain it is glass and not something like a lacquer to make a dull bead shiny again—or something like that?"
**Of course it is glass.It is a layer of translucent rose red glass.No spit no wax, just in pristine condition**:>)
Patrick.