How to best handle the problems of this necklace? One bead has a fracture. The pieces fit and I could glue it in place, also half of the clasp is gone. Should I try to fix these ailments or get out the wire cutters?

The clasp is an inexpensive barrel clasp - also not a reliable clasp as they work themselves loose. I would not hesitate to replace this with a better clasp. (i.e. Lobster, toggle, safety clasp)

A broken bead has little value compared to the value of an intact bead. Unless you need it for the overall length I would remove it. if your intention is to sell - a "repaired" bead is still a repaired bead, and will get a buyers attention and will possibly flaw the piece as a whole. If it is for you personally - repair or remove.

This is my offer of advice.

Although I have seen a number of Rousselet beads/compositions, and own a few—I am far from comprehensive. I imagine Stefany and others may have an opinion.

When I have a chance, I'll check Beads Of The World for a comparison.

Jamey

Any metaphysics you loose by cutting it up?

The audience is invited to look up "beadwork".

Main question - is anyone familiar with Rousselet beads as these appear to be similar to a picture in 'Beads of the World'. (The question about a broken bead seems to be a distraction from the original question.) See 'Beads of the World' picture included.

The similarity to your beads is vague. The beads have different shapes, and the patterns are made differently.

Your beads are nicely-shaped ellipsoids, and the decoration is composed from a multi-colored trail that has been randomly drizzled around the surface, crossing over itself in places.

The Rousselet bead is more free-form, and has sparse dark trailed lines that have been combed.

I don't see much comparison.

JDA.

We need Rousselet catalogues. Your original question was about the beads. Meanwhile, are you sure the necklace is original Rousselet or is it something thrown together by someone else using Rousselet components? Anyone have any Rousselet catalogues? Might help you date it. Are they still in business? Is there a Rousselet museum somewhere?

...your use of the word "metaphysics" in the context of the decision to repair or not to repair a bead or a necklace.

I'm sure you meant to say "lose" instead of "loose". The concept of "losing" metaphysics is certainly...interesting.

I believe all questions regarding beads and items comprised of beads are welcome here. If you consider a question to be beneath your level of sophistication and, therefore, not worthy of a polite answer, why don't you just ignore the question? Surely you have better things to do with your time.

Right! I meant "lose" instead of "loose". And what was the question, something to do with breaking up the beadwork? I'll break up anything, unless too much metaphysics is lost. Isn't beadwork:

beads + (labor + materials + metaphysics)

I can replace the labor and materials, but not the deep meanings, etc., that people apply to the beadwork.

My answer was polite...your response was basically stupid, thoughtless, and riddled with all the personality faults you would accuse me of.

Your comments didn't sound polite to me. But, in the age of the internet, where messages dart off with a tap of the "enter" key or a click on the "send" icon, it seems to me that words do not always come off as well in these brief missives as they might in a letter by snail mail or - better - had they been spoken. I gather I inferred a tone that you did not intend. I have read many words posted here by you in your various guises over the years, and you would have to admit that you can be condescending, often intentionally.

Since that wasn't your intention here, I apologize for the response I posted.

..either you promote me to an unwarranted high level or you hold yourself in too low esteem. Better to look at the insecure shameless self-promoter for condescending remarks. I never make such remarks and, indeed, I have nothing to prove in bead "research".

There's too much pop psychology around here. There might be magic in some of this "beadwork"...if you can figure out what qualifies as "beadwork". Apparently, it's a complicated notion. Otherwise, some of the stuff passed down to us morons from those on high is truly laughable...and I like to laugh!

Most of us welcome that certain someone's knowledge and opinions and we're free to disagree with him. I don't find him condescending.

We get it: you don't like him.

My comments were about you and my apology was to you. There was no mix-up.

Via Google not what i found is accurate - or marketing...

his awesome necklace is, literally and figuratively, all "peaches 'n' cream"!

A very rare signed Louis Rousselet, our necklace is a beautiful medley of creamy faux pearls and peach art glass beads and, like the proverbial "peaches 'n' cream" complexion, it is positively glowing!

Rousselet is considered one of the premier bead and jewelry makers in Europe of all time. Between the 1930s-1970s, he designed for THE "Who's Who" of the fashion world, among them, Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, Jacques Fath, Jean Patou, Lanvin, Pierre Balmain, Robert Pique and Nina Ricci.

All his glass beads were hand-wound and hand-polished, and artisans trained for six to seven years just so they could make the beads, according to author Ginger Moro, in her book "European Designer Jewelry". His pearls were dipped in "essence l'Orient", the same fish compound that Miriam Haskell later on adapted for, and made famous, her baroque pearl creations.

As he made jewelry for fashion houses, Rousselet pieces were rarely stamped; some had paper labels only. I've owned a few, and come across others, but this is the first one I've found that is signed with Rousselet's "L.R." script signature. Moro writes that in 1952, Rousselet made a series of 50 pearl and glass bead necklaces for Balmain that were stamped with his initials, but it is not clear whether ours is part of that series.

and

Louis Rousselet (1892-1980) was born in Paris and apprenticed at the tender age of eight to M. Rousseau to master the technique of lamp-work beads. "Before World War I, it was common practice to apprentice young children to a trade. Families needed as many working members as possible," reports Denise Rousselet, Louis' daughter. In 1922, in Menilmontant, Louis began manufacturing glass and Galalith beads as well as imitation pearls (glass beads coated on the outside with essence d'Orient, a fish scale compound). Very soon his firm was a major source of handmade beads worldwide, employing nearly 800 workers over the years.

Lastly - if you have the book "Glass beads from Europe: by Sibylle Jargstorf go to pages 76-78

Another strand with beads imitating lapis with clasp indicating 'Made in France'

Hi WenP

I believe the necklace you are showing is a Louis Rousselet design from the 1930's. Peter Francis' reference to a Pierre Rousselet is misleading - he got the first name wrong. The large spherical clasps with MADE IN FRANCE signatures were used by Rousselet in their designs.

The beads in your necklace are wound blue glass, lathe-turned and carved red galalithe (casein) and probably stained and carved vegetable ivory, all on the usual fox chain. These are classic combinations of beads made from different materials which he combined in this way.

The image of a necklace in my collection is a definite Rousselet design, and uses the same blue glass bead, some more lighter blue glass ovals and six now rather dirty-looking spliced casein beads which are a typical trademark bead of Louis Rousselet. These are fascinating beads made with a typical Art deco stepped design where originally black and blonde casein were spliced together and lathe-turned into an oval bead. I'll show another version of these beads in a second message.

The marbled effect in the oval blue glass beads looks similar to the marbled effect in the yellow beads you first showed.

Carole

Louis Rousselet's daughter Denise opened a retail Paris shop - Jeanne Danjou - which is still to be found at 15 Place de Pont Neuf where they still sell designs made by Denise from some of Louis’ 1930's Galalithe beads which remain in the family. You can also buy them loose but they are expensive as they are a diminishing resource.

Louis' grandson Jean-Claude Rousselet still worked in the shop where I met him and talked to him in 1999. I knew in advance I was going to the shop, so I had taken my necklaces with me and he confirmed they were his grandfather's beads and that these clasps were used by the firm. So after talking to him, and seeing the resources in the shop, I am fairly confident about identifying Rousselet designs. WenP's two necklaces shown so far appear to be Rousselet originals.

This bracelet is a design I bought in Jeanne Danjou at that time made by Denise using her father's 1930’s black and white spliced Galalithe beads which are pristine and shiny and show just how the oval ones on my necklace would have originally looked!

I have at least one other Rousselet 1930's necklace which I'll show shortly.

Carole

Here are the blue necklace again (possibly indicating that the spliced casein beads were once dark blue and blonde) and another one in amber shades, where the fairly simple blonde carved beads are Galalithe and the rest are glass.

Early 20th century casein beads are among some of my favourites!

Carole

When I said "WenP's two necklaces shown so far appear to be Rousselet originals", just to clarify - in case someone thinks I am referring to the wound red glass beads - the two pieces which WenP has shown which I believe are Rousselet designs are:

(i) the marbled yellow glass and cylindrical casein on fox chain with spherical clasp

(ii) the dark blue glass and carved red casein with vegetable ivory beads, fox chain and spherical clasp.

Cheers
Carole

More beads by Louis Rousselet.......these are made from galalithe

......glass beads and two galalithe beads by Louis Rousselet

......metal beads by Louis Rousselet, and an original necklace composed of metal and glalithe beads.

......metal beads by Louis Rousselet, and an original necklace composed of metal and glalithe beads.

photos from the 1930s showing Louis Rousselet showing cabaret superstar Mistinguette how to make a bead, and his beadmaking workshop.

Dear HO and MJ,

I'm sure your photos and information are greatly appreciated. This is stuff we don't get to see very often, from reliable sources.

Be well. Jamey

Dear Beadcollectors,

you can find more pics and informations about Louis Rousselet on our website :
www.jeannedanjou-jewelry-paris.com

We'll be pleased to give you more details about Rousselet Beads if you ask us for,

JD
(little son of Louis Rousselet !)

shouldn't we really be calling this stuff phosphoprotein formaldehye, just to be consistent with the other hard-to-remember plastic names?