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Vintage Bead Information.
The bead shapes or type can be the following: round (abacus), flat or puff oval, bicone, blown (filigree or hollow), briolette and teardrop, button or disc, cabochon, donut, drum or barrel, chips, cubes, shaped into flowers, hearts, motifs, nugget, pressed, rhondelle, square, seed, bugle, wound, drawn or molded, smooth or faceted.
Types of glass beads can include the following:
Czech or Czechoslovakian, beads dating from 1918 to present day (includes all versions of Czech Republic) . Beads imported into the UK during these years and have been made into jewellery that is now unusable. We have reclaimed them for craft use.
Bohemia, antique and vintage beads made in the historical region of central Europe including Goblanz. Major bead and jewellery components from the late 1770's to the Second World war
Germany, beads that have originated from jewellery signed Germany (Modern) or West Germany (1949 - 1990)
Venetian glass, generic term for beads that originated from Italy from Venice on the small island of Murano. Famous for its glass making. Glass has been produced there from the 13Th century up to present day.
Millefiori or Rosetta, made from hollow glass canes and six layers of glass. white, blue, white, brick red and blue. After the colour is laid the glass is ground to give a pattern of five concentric stars with twelve points. The canes are then formed into beads. Chevron beads are distinguished by their red, white and blue patterns of zig zags. To use the correct term for Millefiori beads would be abstract millefiori. They are made with more colours and are solid. But you will see the term Millefiori used as more generic.
Lampwork, handmade art form beads, very time consuming as each bead is individually formed. Can also be described as the more modern torch-working or flame-working. Including the following: Lampwork beads are wedding cake beads - decorations of glass overlays that feature dots, swirls and flowers usually roses. And Foiled beads - foils in gold, silver and metallic colours infused into the glass.
Murano, intricate glass beads made on the Italian island of Murano. Venetian or Murano beads do not have or very little white deposit showing around the threading holes or seen if the glass is transparent
Swarovski crystal, brand name of precision cut glass from Austria. Thought to be the finest lead crystal glass today. Founded by Daniel Swarovski who was originally from Bohemia. Also made mood-stone that changed colour depending on mood.
Dichroic, high end glass beads made with a thin layer of metal fused to the surface that shows two colours when viewed from different angles.Beads can be labour intensive pressed or lampwork traditionally made.
