This is very informative. Thank you. I believe I might have some Rousselet beads based on the qualities of the glass I've seen in some of Homj's photos.
It would be a very good thing if photos of Rousselet beads could be brought together in a single publication, or in a file here at BCN.
I am linking the "view all" version of the earlier discussion involving Rousselet beads. Included are photos by Carole Morris and Homj.
http://www.beadcollector.net/cgi-bin/anyboard.cgi?fvp=/openforum/&cmd=iYz&aK=76977&iZz=76977&gV=0&kQz=&aO=1&iWz=0
Gabrielle Liese first drew my attention to Rousselet beads, so any line of enquiry should investigate the beads in the Bead Museum AZ collection.
I have a few that may be from Rousselet, likewise Carole Morris, and probably others.
But I have never seen the jars of powdered glass for beadmaking that you show as Rousselet ingredients and would love to know more- did you take the picture? where is this? when? who does the store of materials belong to now?
About 15 years ago, Jean-Claude, Louis Rousselet's grandson, had to empty a small warehouse containing some of Louis' material. He asked me to visit and see if there was anything that might be of interest to me. I purchased the entire inventory of calibrated crushed glass and powders and a long wooden multi-drawered cabinet for beads. He also added a case of glass bead making tools and equipment from his grandfather's workshop.
Several years later I sold most of the glass to a contemporary French glass bead maker specializing in high-fashion jewelry.
The photo was taken recently in our studio.
This is a good example, by comparison, of how another person may have valued the simulation more highly than the real thing...The Chinese have a long honored history of copying precious and semi-precious stones in glass.
I have already posted some images on BCN of a 1930's necklace I got fairly recently, the feature beads of which are made of a plastic material which I am still not too sure about. I'm including some again here.
Seeing your imitation turquoise Rousselet beads reminded me that it is just possible that this is a Rousselet piece. The glass beads certainly look similar to his, and the handmade wound nature of them has always steered me away from thinking they are like the Czech versions (many of which were moulded). Also the inset round 'turquoise' glass pieces (probably set hot into the material which has caused melting around the edges) also occur on what I have always thought was a handmade matching clasp.
So, I'm again wondering......
Carole
