Oh, and my other question: Is it possible to stabilize fractures? With superglue or something?

One bead is chipped, and the other has a large shallow impact fracture that will fall off eventually.

I think the shards are a lost cause, so I'll just take the sharp edge off the chip. How should I stabilize the chip?

Super glue is not appropriate. Museum conservators and many gemstone cutters use Hxtal which while being expensive and demanding relative exactitude does a good job in matching the glass. Other epoxies are also commonly used such as Hughs 330 epoxy. Repolishing would likely be required as well. A shame more care was not taken.

Foil beads like these are vulnerable because the top layer of glass easily comes off of the thin layer of metal foil below it. So I'd be careful if attempting to sand anything smooth or polish it, more damage can happen.

Recently I did a bit of web research about repairing lead crystal, and evidently it can be done.

Thank you, Frank, for the info on what adhesives to use. Have you any experience with the UV-cured adhesives?

And what about this glass repair epoxy:

http://www.amazon.com/PC-Products-PC-Clear-Adhesive-Syringe/dp/B008DZ19WC/

Good ol' Loctite glass glue works, too - I've used it for synthetic sapphire joins as well as glass.

I've heard about crack repair for automobile windshields. The fractured bead might benefit from something like that. How is glue forced into the crack though? If I took a bead to one of the local window shops I wonder how they would react?

Someone elsewhere suggested clear nail polish for the chipped area for stabilization. It would be removable if necessary. Yea or nay?

I was elated to win the ebay auction. It somehow was overlooked by the usual fierce bidders for foiled beads because main keywords were absent. It is my first win for foiled beads after losing dozens and dozens of times. The joy evaporated upon seeing shards in the box. I bought the necklace to wear. Now it's just another bag of beads waiting for repair.

And the dilemma, send them back or keep them anyway and try to deal with the seller? I know you've been there. Double punishment... have them arrive damaged and then have to send back the parts. And it could have easily been avoided. Of course I'm keeping them, but now the strand is too short.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXCEPTIONAL-VENETIAN-POLYCHROME-GLASS-BEAD-NECKLACE-c1920-/252343428913?hash=item3ac0d72731:g:qkIAAOSwgApXAoEf

there are at least 10 more similar on the bay

Thanks. I see lively auctions for that type V foil bead especially opalescent colors. I have a strand from thrift store, needs a replacement bead.

These crumb foils, I don't know. Any ideas? Venice again? Somewhere else? I don't find them in the Sick Collection photos. Maybe newer? 1950s? 60s?

check out eBay item number: 371567693434

these might be different but they seem very popular

I haven't bought beads for 3 years... except a few thrift finds.

here's the photo. I lost my entire paragraph last time. I have problems with this site.

These aren't mine, but is an example. Again, I don't know the origin, but I see the popularity.

Did you check the bead holes? Are they perfectly clean or is there some residual bead separator.
If there is I would say they are Japanese.

Here are some Japanese foil mid 1900's.

Unfortunately I see lots of Japanese and Czech foil beads being sold as Venetian all the time.

Wayne

I wonder, if bidders were told they are Japanese beads would the result be the same? I was surprised at the auction results for the long strand of ovals.

My beads look clean inside, but I can barely see past the bead caps. Swirl at one end, clean at the other and slightly protruding.

There is more crumb color on my beads, but that means little.

If they look clean and you can see the swirl in the glass I would lean more likely Venetian than Japanese.

As for dealers selling something as Japaneses or Czech they would most likely not get the same prices.
On ebay just because it says Venetian it seems to carry a premium. Dealers call everything Venetian because of this.
Whether its done intentionally or out of ignorance who knows.
As in all purchases its buyer beware.

yes Wayne, I've seen it all this past month or two, browsing anything bead related. Venetian is on everything, so ridiculous. I don't bother correcting anyone anymore. If I hadn't studied for years and years I would be utterly confused.

I sometimes see you out there bidding for beads. You are trying for some blacks? There was a long strand of those in blue a few weeks back that went crazy from the start, did you see it?

I saw those blue beads, they went for over $2000 absolutely crazy.
I will be passing on the black ones, have a feeling they to will go for crazy money too.

Posted by: jrj 03/27/2015, 22:39:04

My friend/colleague who is an object conservator uses Acryloid B-72 for similar conditions. It’s non-yellowing and can be reversed in acetone. Hold a brush dampened with diluted B-72 next to the silver edge and the adhesive will be wicked under the band via capillary action. You might put some painters tape on the coral adjacent to the silver first to protect it. It can be purchased at Conservation Resources: http://www.conservationresources.com/Main/section_34/section34_16.html

http://www.conservationsupportsystems.com/product/show/acryloid-paraloid-b-72/acryloid

known carinogens, known to cause birth defects and who knows what else. Nail polish used to have tuluene, no longer does.

Yes, use with ventilation and try not to get on your skin. Both these solvents will go right through those thin surgical gloves, or dissolve them, so don't bother with those for protection. Using small amounts of adhesives with those solvents should be safe especially if you take care not to eat, drink, inhale, or smear on your body.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/4184richard/m.html?item=252343428913&hash=item3ac0d72731%3Ag%3AqkIAAOSwgApXAoEf&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Lovely foil beads and other vintage European glass beads here...the saphiret made my heart rate increase a little when I first saw it. Wow!

well he labels everything as Venetian, but quite a few are Czech or Japanese, in my view...

So-called trade beads seem to be documented more thoroughly than the jewelry beads... 'art deco', Edwardian', small holed Venetian fancies, and various foiled beads.

I appreciate everything I learn here. Most wedding cake beads seem to be Venetian without dispute except for some poor copies from India. There are crossovers with decorated beads. Millefiori slices showing up on beads from other places. Adventurine everywhere.

The Czech made quite a few 'wedding cake beads' that most people would think of as Venetian.
Here is an example from a sample card in the Jablonec museum.

I highly recommend the books by Jargstorf on European beads and European glass in jewelry. They are the best I have found so for for ducumenting European 'non-trade' beads.

Thank you. I ordered the book.

Among the 'wedding cake' beads I find some types more desirable than others. They must have been very popular based on abundance. I'm glad to learn more about them and other European jewelry beads.