And, would you care to elaborate? Is it a repro from Rings&Things that has been aged? If those are repros, then what are they reproducing if not something that looks very similar? Have you ever seen one of the originals of the same design as the ones sold at Rings&Things? I know you're an experienced bead person...it would be nice to hear some of your reasons for your declaration. I already know the reason that you've seen enough authentic and enough fakes to know the difference.

Does anyone have an original in this shape or are the repros merely designs inspired by originals?

And, I'm not being a know it all...just asking questions as someone that is let's say perhaps a bit interested and not as knowledgeable.

...I had the wrong bead retailer. I had seen these beads on the Firemountain Gems site. I've included a photo of the bead sold on their site that is similar to the bead on this thread. I hope it's okay to do that.

Google "Warring States" beads and you will see a bunch of the originals. BTW, what is your name?

I have seen many images of Warring States beads and there are many variations. In my humble opinion you haven't substantiated your declaration in an educated manner. My name is Timothy. And, here are a few past images of Warring States beads from Jan Skipper that include a bead with a yellow green glaze/glass. Are you not capable of giving a more detailed reason for your finding?

to provide whatever information you yourself may have about it. Sometimes context can help. It's really not fair to put an image on the net, then poke us like a pinata until we may spew a satisfactory response.

For what it's worth, Warring States period beads are fairly rare and even more expensive. This bead you show does not look like beads from that period that I have seen, in image or in "person". The surface is not smooth, it's crude and bumpy, while the protruding red "eyes" are smooth textured. The red is wrong for anything ancient I have seen. The bead is not at all meticulously crafted like I would expect from a genuine Warring States bead.

Ironically, while you feel poked, I feel stabbed now. I just asked for educated reasons as to why someone thought the bead a fake. And, I don't need the bead to be authentic. I said nothing about what was paid for this bead, but I feel like you've just told me I most likely couldn't afford to buy an authentic Warring States bead. Or, that I couldn't possibly own one as they are so rare. I know that I could buy one from Jan Skipper on e-bay now for around 150.00. I also know that often even the experts can be wrong and that museums have been wrong about acquisitions. And, I still love what I guess you think is an otherwise cheap and worthless bead. It was actually a gift purchased by a friend in New York from a genuine Middle Eastern man. Okay...the bleeding has stopped. I will always cherish this bead. :)

I have witnessed how some here have stated that indeed certain authentic beads are expensive and perhaps rare. I've also seen some here making fun of the price of some dZi beads on e-bay. It almost seems a contradiction at times...no. You know, at one time saying an authentic bead should have a nice price tag and then when a nice price tag is seen....it's laughable. Isn't that just how revered some dZi beads are in Tibet. I think I read that the one Sting wears or has worn was about 9 or 10 thousand. And, I've seen you make fun of the price asked for certain glass snail beads sold by someone that had been a regular here once upon a time. And, I'm just making an observation here. :)

Well well well....sounds like someone buys beads only by judging them against a picture...Fakes are a big biz..
And no you can't always make a judgment using a photograph..However...
Knowing at least a little of the science of glass and of beads is the best protection you can have..
Just because a bead you have looks just like the one in the photo or artical doesn't mean yours is real.
You need to study beads for a long time...you can read old threds here and see how some of these folks have progressed insofar as their knowledg of beads.
We have all been douped...Generally, I have found that someone who can't except the fact that they have been fooled usually has a large collection of fakes in thier bead invantory.
I get great advise here at bcn and what you have to remember is....their advise should only be a starting point for your own exploration into the bead ou have made a topic...You are responsible for knowing what you have,and if you havn't done your homework....you can and will get burned....
I don't think I've ever seen a fake bead sold here that wasn't listed as a fake or repo....
That being said...I think you need to slow down a little and go to some expos and ask lots of questions...relax...and enjoy beads...it's not a power trip...someone will asways have a cooler bead then yours....god luck

...I buy something because it calls out to me. I buy it knowing it may or may not be authentically ancient if that happened to be how it was represented. I don't regret any acquisition...I love every bead and pendant I have. Why do I need to slow down? The only reason I have for slowing down is financial. I have said several times here that the best and only reason to have something is because you love it. And, I appreciate the effort made to create any fake bead or pendant I have...it doesn't take away from their beauty. So, if that means I'm guilty of judging by a photo...then guilty as charged.

...some time ago. And, I am not certain if it was something that Tasart or Jamey Allen had said...I think maybe it was Jamey. I believe he said that if he wanted an opnion about something that he may already have his own ideas about, that he prefers not to give any information about the item....to not influence the other person's ideas and it's always nice to let someone else give their opinion first. I remember also how he always knew people may think him an idiot for asking and how given his position in the bead world this could be judged in a manner of ways. Meaning, some may be thinking...what is this bead expert doing asking questions...how much of an expert can he be. But, just because you're asking...that doesn't make you an idiot or ignorant. People will always have their ideas about things and they may not always be right. And, as they say the dumbest question is the one you don't ask. So, I have sat back and listened and learned. And, still have much to learn and hope to never stop learning.

I discovered this bead currently being offered on-line and it is described as a Roman crumb glass bead circa 1st century A.D. Of course, perhaps it's authenticity could be questioned as well. It does however have raised red and green bumps that seem to have faired better than the body of the bead. So what shade of red is appropriate for ancient beads? Is there a time line for the shades of red glass that were used? I know just a little about how the shade red has changed in Venetian beads. One site mentions how, "newly discovered Selenium was used in the production of the translucent red outer glass between approximately 1890 and 1930, giving a more garish ruby red outer color. Its use was discontinued when it became more expensive than the gold which had been used previously." So, I'd be very interested to hear what anyone knows for certain about the color red in terms of ancient glass...facts, not conjecture. Please, let me have it.

vb zx I acquired these some 15 years, or so, ago, from a German bead dealer, at the Denver Gem and Mineral Show. They were on a strand with some other beads I wanted. They remind me of the story the Oppers told at the D.C. Bead conference about Mauritanians chipping ancient eye beads. They would put a hole in the chip and sell it. The Oppers tried to buy a bead intact but the Mauritanians wouldn't do it. Chips of eye beads were a fashion statement in their current culture.
I can't imagine chipping these eye beads unless to curse someone!
Oh, forgot protocol- the beads range from 16-18 centimeters with perforations 5-11 cm wide.

I love those beads and would be thrilled to own them...regardless of their provenance. Thanks for sharing, Carole. I like you.