For me, unless it is a known high end designer item or "as is" it has very well know provenance and\or some type of historical value, I would say feel free to do what you want with it.
Take it apart, restring it, redesign it. Beads are meant to be used.

And make the piece as wearable as possible - for example if a necklace is really short it sometimes makes sense to make it longer just so you can enjoy wearing it. Adding complementary beads or bead caps can also enhance the piece. I agree with Wayne - beads are meant to be worn!

Thanks, I’ve come across some possible max neiger beads, certainly Egyptian revival but the composition is awful which makes me think it has already been restrung. No photos yet as it’s at my sisters house.

If the beads are badly strung as in going to break, or are nice beads but strung badly and with a cheap clasp I restring. Also if I want to wear it, I have no problem redesigning to fit my aesthetic, though as someone pointed out- if it is really valuable "as is" I might not alter it. But a well designed (or redesigned) and well strung beaded piece should mean added value I should think.

Also to protect certain more delicate valuable beads I will restring and put in spacer beads just so beads won't "klonk" together, chip or otherwise get damaged. And it is good to TRY to use a certain type of stringing material such as silk with knotting in between for pearls, or a thoughtful material that "makes sense" in context- as in synthetic or genuine sinew in some Native American type necklaces.

To me the hooks are also important, as nothing brings a necklace down like a cheap barrel screw closure, when a simple or interesting handmade (or vintage) closure would make it all the more beautiful. I like handmade "S" or "J" hooks for most necklaces and especially bracelets as they are easy to use one handed. But using beads and loops as closures is also a favorite.

Wear it and Enjoy!

years of research- stringing, restringing, thread research, and teaching stringing and continued learning bring me to these important principles:

use beads together whose hole sizes match if possible

always use the fattest thickness of thread or bunched threads that will fit through the smallest holed beads in the design- never use something skinny through large holes because both threads and beads damage each other (and nylon coated steel cable quicker than anything else)

coloured thread especially knotted adds a colour element to a necklace and makes it feel good to handle- no abrasion

avoid any glue specially liquid superglue as it is guaranteed to wreck bead holes wherever it flows into.

wire needles you make yourself -yes, easily replaceable even in the middle of a job

steel needles- no! any mistakes you have to cut the thread and start again

(the fuller instructions have been published years ago in my first 3 books).

I thought I'd show some of the Czech Egyptian revival necklaces that I've re-strung for various reasons.

The first image is a necklace that was intact except the pendant was missing. I found a compatible pendant and carefully sewed it onto the bell-shaped bead that was part of the original drop assembly.

The second necklace had another pair of elephants but one was badly damaged, and the strand was broken. So it was re-strung and somewhat re-modeled to show off the three elephants that were "keepers". OOPS - I posted the wrong photo and it can't be removed - see next post please!

Several examples of very short necklaces that I extended with plain seed beads at the back.

The large head pendant was attached with a simple piece of bent copper wire. I changed the bail to a decorative copper head pin. I re-strung the entire necklace but maintained the original design.

Finally, I created a "revival" necklace using vintage Czech beads that came on the original hanks, and a pendant that was purchased separately.

Beautifully done, keeping with the style, updating and modifying for modern use. Good on you!

This looks like it could have been a necklace but when I got these, it was clear that there were two identical hanks tied together - I assume they were sold like this originally.

Thanks for all the neiger bad pics they are wonderful and clearly show how a piece can be enhanced by re stringing.

I love Egyptian revival, and have some parts and pieces I'm holding for that "right combination that I'll find one day"!

So I ve got my egyptian revival beads back from my sisters and I am starting to think about the re string. Here is my first combination attempt and I have a few questions and would love your opinions.
should the scarabs be strung facing a particular direction? all the same direction or alternating?

Do you think the addition of the orange cubes adds or takes away aesthetically?

I intend to knot between the beads with a neutral coloured thread.

Hit me critics!

Thanks