Dear PB,

Your photo includes two imitation chevron beads. That is to say, two non-cane beads, that are instead wound, and made to resemble chevron beads. These are found throughout Island SE Asia, as far north as Japan (I think). Their origin remains a mystery, though recent copies are now made in Java.

I'm familiar with the brown cylinder with the look of gold in the interior, but I can't say I know who made them nor how old they are. They remind me of certain German marble beads from about 100 years ago.

Jamey

Wow! Maraming salamat (Thank you very much), Jamey, for the info about the "imitation" chevrons. I realize the wonder of the known and unknown origins of these beads.

About the brown cylinder bead, it is one of the beads that baffle me really. Maybe they're related to the German marble beads you speak of. That may be a good lead to research...

Pilipinasbeads

Hello. I have an heirloom pilaked Kalingga necklace from Lubuagan. It has several beads similar to these. Is the pilaked the Lubuagan version of the winayway? If I am not mistaken, the gold encrusted cylindrical bead is a "pang-ao", more common with the Ifugao. I was told that the Kalingga progressively add beads to an heirloom necklace as it is passed from generation to generation. That is if the beads have not been distributed to children. True?

If I may, the 'imitations' were so called due to the demands of the trade at the time the Chevrons were very popular and there were political, if not geographical limitations to produce them. I guess it was making do with the resources including bead knowledge production that they had.