Hope to meet up with Red Mountain later on in my trip. I guess he'd know some of this stuff.....

I'm sure I've spent at least ninety days shopping for antique and ancient beads in China. And I bought a number of these. And I trusted that they were probably Warring States, or at least antique copies. However, my doubts have increased for a number of reasons...

Years ago at Bead Expo in Santa Fe, a prominent Chinese magazine publisher and expert said "The large number of beads like these -which I had been pouring over in a well respected dealer's booth- were fake." I've never regretted walking away from these and this type.

Whenever looking at Chinese "antiques," it is advised to be suspicious from the beginning. But buying the piece provides good study material for comparison; this is the tuition you must pay in order to begin looking for clues. Notice the even patination and "calcification" in the gunky whitish areas.

Even the famous Summerfield Warring States horned eye bead has come into question. Sleuthing is part of the fun.

Good luck in China,

There are many obvious fake Warring States beads to be found on this market, and this was the only one of this type I could see.

I am off to Shanghai at the end of the week, where the glass museum has an exhibit on the Warring State beads, aka dragonfly eye beads. Perhaps after that exhibit, I will know more. Also, in Tucson, I was able to touch and inspect up close Bassem's Warring States beads, which is a good way to get to know them.

I know it's kinda not done on here, but if there is anyone who could give me somewhat of a pricerange for a bead like this, I would appreciate it. There are a few Warring States for sale, but they are all (I think) the other type with some type of faience or ceramic?

Any one who knows more about the pebble type stone beads?

is it getting to be known in China too??

The ones I bought came from an impeccable source in Hong Kong, that is the only reason that I bought them. I believe that this particular type, the kind where the white portion of the decoration appears to "fall out" while the remaining blue elements remain, are at least to some extent authentic. Are there fakes out there that look similar? It would not surprise me. Are they definitely Warring States period, that I cannot be entirely sure of, but I do believe mine at least were ancient Chinese glass beads and likely Warring States. If you write me directly, I will be willing to discuss prices and values.

Jan

see some examples below: