1930s? These were the ones that were strung with the pink and red Boshan "starburst" beads.

They're only about 12-14mm in size, which make the detail on them rather fine.

This time applied to silver mesh. Beads measure about 26x16mm.

Guessing they're also from the 1930s-40s unless someone knows a different story.

well, for my shop in the 1990s we were buying new rather elaborate attractive chinese jewellery items with enamel areas mounted onto silver mesh artificially oxidised to appear old, rather similar to what you show-
earrings with dragons, etc, jointed slinky fish...
does yours have hallmarks etc?

I see it all over eBay, Stefany, usually in segmented bracelets or brooches or rings, combined with inexpensive cabochon stones. Usually referred to as "Tibet-silver." [pics show some typical pieces]

The little blue flower endcaps seem to be a 30s thing, however - later versions from the 90s all seem to be a bit larger and black.

The clasp is a hidden box clasp in one of the beads - the tongue is stamped "Silver," and appears to have a bit of gold wash over it.

They seem to show up at the usual auction sites.

There seems to be a primal urge for each of us to try to push the dates back on our beads by at least ten years (if not one or two hundred years.)

There were early versions of the wire mesh bead. But the mesh was much finer.

On eBay recently there were some beads offered with the following description:

STERLING SILVER VERMEIL (gold coating) with COBALT BLUE and TURQUOISE ENAMELING. They are never-used old store stock, made in China during the 1930's. The old tags were still on when I purchased them. They are handcrafted, so each bead is unique.

These RARE beads are hollow with cobalt blue and turquoise enamel flowers. The bead caps are cobalt blue. They measure 25x11mm.

Let us say that the number "3" in 1930 is not clear enough to read properly; I believe it should read "8".

...but this one does seem to recognize and correctly represent newer cloisonne beads - here's a quote from one of her descriptions:

"For sale today we have a pair of beautiful vintage Chinese Cloissone beads from the 1980's or earlier. OK, so she mis-spelled cloisonne. It happens.

Can 80-year-old gold-plated beads look the same as 30-year-old beads, if they've been stored unused in warm dry conditions? Seems unlikely to me, although finer silver seems to take a good while longer than sterling to blacken - less copper to interact with atmospheric sulphur?

Probably mis-spelled ( US-USA )...:-)
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0923110.html

Clasp has the usual "Silver" stamp.

Again, I do not think that just because someone says something that it is necessarily true. However, this particular vendor moves a lot of vintage jewelry, accessories, and clothing.

I note the little granulation dots and the older-fashioned style of cloud motif.

Hi Chris,

Because of the small 12-14mm diameter and possible age of the silver gilt round beads, they could have been part of the 108 beads in a Mandarin Court Necklace. This type of enamel work is more often found in the tabular bead, a counter weight suspended in back.

The thing is, the work is refined but does not project well. In person, these would seem rather dull -perhaps because they are small and tarnished. In any case, the detail is meticulous; I feel it was made for descriminating taste and therefore an indication of the wearer's status in Chinese society.

Coaching for collectors:
These are so small that in person they do not project well. Also, they are quite tarnished.
But in a small version, the detail seems more refined.