Hello Ali,

The smaller spheroidal beads are called "gold-glass," or "gold sandwich-glass" beads. Their manufacture had begun as early as 300 BCE, so they are among the earliest beads made from drawn tubes, in the Mediterranean region. However, they were probably made for a long time, and also made elsewhere, since they can be found in Indonesia--though those beads are somewhat different in appearance. (Plus there are new versions made since ca. twenty years ago).

In contrast, there are modern European beads, called "mercury glass," that are likewise made from thin-walled tubes or canes, that have mercury amalgam sucked into the interior--also giving the effect of being "gold." These have been made in Czechoslovakia, Japan, and India. The mercury glass beads are sometimes misidentified as "gold sandwich-glass beads," even though they are visually different. (I know of an instance where an Afghan seller believed his mercury-glass beads were ancient, and "the nicer ones.")

Your convex bicone beads look more like mercury glass. However, if as you say, the gold is on the outside, I would guess they have been "gold-lacquered." Can you actually scrape-off the gold surface? The beads actually look like the Czech (or Japanese or Indian) tubes.

Your photo is raw/unedited, and consequently appears HUGE. Too big to be helpful to have a good idea of their appearance. So I have reformatted one photo, shown here.

Jamey

infact i just saw these yesterday in the market and i was not buyer. the seller told me that the big ones are from North Iran. i have been familiar with small ones for 25 years but it was first time to see those bicone beads. i was just permitted to take a photo and i don't have unfortunately more photos. i was sure you people here are aware of any bead😀.

best wishes
Ali