I selected this great strand of new jasper beads from the same gentleman. I think they are luscious.

JDA.

Outside the Rodeway tent, I found a vendor who had a single strand of recent Indonesian millefiori beads, at a decent price. These were new about five years ago, so I guess it's not surprising it was the only one left. I have also seen nearly identical strands (right down to the "broken" central bead), on two other occasions. So it was production work, and not spontaneously generated.

JDA

Here's a close-up of the strand, showing a few beads I particularly like.

JDA.

Inside The Rodeway, the next day, I returned to buy a strand of beads from Abdul Touray (shown last year)--but I also noticed this gigantic new repro zi bead. Actually Abdul had two similar beads, but I was conservative enough to select one (and it happens to match--in size and shape--a big bead I bought in New York in 2003). I think this was the first time I noticed new Chinese beads among Abdul's inventory.

JDA.

Then, I found a seller who had a good selection of new Chinese millefiori beads--and I chose these.

The large disks are perforated at the top, to be tabular pendants.

JDA.

And from the same seller--this strand of recent chevron beads from India. These have circulated for a while, but I like them and it was a good selection at a very good price.

JDA.

At the African Village, I bought a group of new Chinese chevron beads--the latest editions. I also saw strands of huge spherical millefiori beads, but passed on spending 100 bucks for these (though they were very attractive).

Note, I got two strands of red ones--because one had some cracked beads--and it was cheap (!). (We Scots are thrifty.)

JDA.

Believe it or not, although red-dyed coral has been around for 17 years, I have never invested in any (because I find it basically unattractive). But, since coral is a topic I lecture on, I decided I ought to have at least one "decent" strand--and on the 3rd day (I think), I found a chinese company that had a varied selection, and I purchased these.

To the right, they also had a plethora of simple necklaces made with knotted small repro zi beads. These cost about $7 each--so who could resist?

JDA.

In the same show, I found a dealer who had lingum stones from India (I hope). A "Shiva lingum" is a jasper rock, thought to resemble a fat phallus, symbolically associated with the Hindu god, and traditionally found in river beads in India--naturally shaped by nature.

At least that used to be the story. I am pretty sure that the vast majority of modern lingums are carefully selected and cut....

But I didn't own one--and I thought this was a handsome piece of stone. (I am almost inclined to drill it, and make it a bead. Imagine it with the jasper spheres I showed earlier....)

JDA.

And at the same show, I found a seller of mineral beads who had these violet fluorite beads. (Once more, though I like these, I have not purchased very many since they began to circulate in the mid-1980s.)

He also had small lapis beads--and I'm a total sucker for these anytime.

JDA.

Here's an example that appears close to color being sold.

Also coral has been dyed for a lot longer than 17 years, but there have been different phases according to the 'fashionable' in various markets.

Hi Judy,

"Here's an example that appears close to color being sold."

? I have no idea what this refers to (!).

Regarding dying coral. Of course it is correct that coral has been dyed for many, many years (as well as other materials--to look like coral). I own a nice red coral ring that I had designed in about 1975, that came wih an excrutiatingly bright red stone..., that has faded over the years....

I was referring to the CURRENT industry, from where new coral beads (usually of bamboo coral) are dyed to become strident red, and sold with no particular effort to say what they are. THIS began in about 1994 or 1995 (actually 12 years ago, not 17)--beginning with large beads made for the Tibetan market, that were immediately passed-off as "old Tibetan coral." (I witnessed this at the International Bead Conference in Washington in 1995.) I didn't buy any of these beads then, when they first appeared--but when I went to Taiwan and China in 1997, I expected to acquire some then. I found they were MORE expensive in China than in the US (perhaps in-part because of the success in marketing them for two years), so I still didn't buy any.

So, prior to these years, there were no (zero) big dyed coral beads, made for the Tibetan market. It was a NEW trend at that time.

When you change the context of a statement, it may be seen to be mistaken or incorrect. But in its context, it may be fully accurate, if it is the observation of a careful person.

Jamey

Jamey,

Thank you for the discussion of recent dyed coral for Tibetan market.

The reference to the necklace in the link was intended to mean that the photo (at least as seen on my monitor) is close to the garish red of what I have seen in person.

As for context, sometimes what is going through one's mind does not translate to the page. Your statement "although red-dyed coral has been around for 17 years, I have never invested in any. . ." was sort of left behind by introduction to what you showed, "But, since coral is a topic I lecture on . . ." with no mention of Tibetan market. In haste one may not absorb all of what is read (not the writer's responsibility), nor convey what is wished to be said (not the fault of the reader).

Once I had a long conversation with a person complaining about my response to an article written mainly about the results of her work, but which had not mentioned her. I could only say that I had responded to what was published, and that she equally had the option to respond to whatever she believed was misrepresented or factually incorrect. So do we all.

Enjoy Tucson,
Jadeterrace

Hi Judy,

I just noticed your reply. Thanks for explaining the first comment. I have looked at the photo in your link on two different computers—and both times the beads look a very typical orange color, the normal color of coral. They did not look red—let alone strident red. Thus my confusion.

My post about Chinese dyed coral was mistaken because I mentioned "17 years" ago as the time this industry took off. Then I corrected myself, and said it was actually 12 years ago. What happened is this: I knew that one of the first times I saw these beads was at the Bead Conference in Washington DC. DC had conferences in 1990 and 1995. I thought it was the earlier one. However, then I remembered that (because I didn't buy any at the time), while they were still a recent item in the marketplace, on my trip to Taiwan and the PRC, I thought I might buy a strand then. That trip happened in 1997. So, I knew the introduction must have been in 1995 (not 1990).

My motive for discussing the issue of "context" relates to my perspective that this is a public chat area. My intent, here, is always to provide useful information to anyone who's interested. I view it was having a conversation with a friend—be it you, or the audience at large. I do not view it as an academic challenge, or as an opportunity to present any information as I would in a researched and cited article or book. It is a more casual thing. I cannot be expected to always give general context, background, comprehensive information, citations, and literature (though in areas where my knowledge is deep, I am capable—to be sure). Mostly, I am reporting practical observations, based on my experience. I can't say the Chinese didn't make these beads 13 or 14 years ago. Maybe they did. But, because I am connected to beads and the bead marketplace, because I am observant, and because I have a serious interest in coral (it being my most favorite bead material), I tend to think my observations have some basis and merit. But I freely admit these are observations. I did not consult a Chinese coral-beadmaker, nor some industrial master-book that provides dates.

So, when I write 'these dyed coral beads have been around for 12 years,' THAT is the context I'm providing. The statement does not say there was never any dyed coral before that time. It says this the time of THOSE beads. But I don't want to belabor the issue beyond this.

Be well. Jamey

One evening, our group had dinner and sauntered over to the Congress Hotel, to view the premiere of World On A String III, and to witness the unvailing of Lois Rose Rose's new book (Seeing Solomon's Knot).

Luigi Cattelan and Nicole Anderson also attended--and they brought gift beads for everyone present.

This is the nice drawn chevron-like bead I received.

JDA.

The day we went to the Holidome, I took a group over to the Gem Mall, to meet an Afghan dealer, who has new stone beads at great prices, and a broad selection. I love this stuff, and cannot resist buying a few pieces each year. The group went together on a hank of tiny lapis beads, and divided them later.

These are currently made, to imitate tiny carnelian and lapis beads dating from ca. 1500 BCE in Afghanistan. The latest editions now have a wider variety of stones, including greens and yellows from serpentine, and the occasional repro decorated carnelian.

JDA.

Here's a close-up of the stone beads. Note the inclusion of a new silver bead, reproducing typical Afghan metal beads of 100 years ago.

JDA.

Over the past 7 or 8 years, a new product line has come out of Afghanistan (or Pakistan), made by recycling glass bangles. The bangles are divided into segments, and made into beads.

Although they are usually misrepresented as being "Roman" (or even "Phoenician"), they date from much later times. (EBay constantly supports the sales of these strands. You can find quite a few such auctions right now!)

Each year, a new group of them appears--and last year the new group consisted of translucent brown glass bangle-fragments.

This is the strand I bought, seen close.

JDA.

I've been collecting seedbeads for a couple of projects I want to pursue. So I bought these really handsome gold and bright purple beads at The Whole Bead show.

JDA.

Africa John is a nice guy that I always spend some time with, catching up and viewing his latest offerings. John cuts his own stone beads from rough that he finds attractive--and the results are unique and great.

I spotted this poppy jasper pendant, and said to myself (unexpectedly), "I'll bet this would look great with new Chinese chevron beads."

I'm not so sure that's the right combination..., but we'll see.

JDA.

Also outside of The Whole Bead show, I found a seller who had a pile of "new" Chinese chevron beads. I could tell these actually dated from 2003 (though I would hesitate to call them "vintage")--so I assume they were left-over, and that's why the price was dirt cheap.

Though I have some from 2003 already..., I could not resist.

JDA.

At The Holidome, the largest volume mineral-bead seller, had scads of new Chinese stone beads, that were also irresistable.

I particularly like the fake banded agate zi beads--and the carnelian "zi" are also fun.

JDA.

My friends Bill and Julie of Tika Imports always have great stuff. For two years, I have been eyeing their pile of very nice sandalwood beads--that I want to use in a special necklace. So, I broke down and bought a bunch of them.

They smell so good.

JDA.

Bill and Julie devised a new bead line just about two years ago, that has been pretty successful--called Mirage beads.

They have a heat-sensative material in them, that changes color--ranging from red through yellow, green, teal, blue, and violet. Almost black sometimes (in the cold).

Last year, they debuted their new Mirage pendants. So, I bought one.

JDA.

My friend Kathleen, who manages Beads and Beyond near Portland, surprised me one afternoon by handing me a small pouch with a big bead inside.

It was this great new millefiori bead (such as I saw at the African Village days earlier, but didn't buy).

Talk about serrandipity. (I'm too tired to check spellings--even if I could do that on this borrowed laptop....)

So, it's true--all good things come to those who wait.

That's the end of this pictorial about Tucson. In a few weeks--I hope to have NEW stuff to show. See you all there.

Cheers, Jamey

Although the old beads call to me, it will be interesting to see the plethora of new ones as well.

...and insight look in new beads. I am very curious looking forward, for a virtual tour through that Tuscon beadworld this year here on BCN and wish you (and all others...!!) a delightful time there. You are so enviable...!!!

It made breakfast this morning very enjoyable.