Topic: Glass bead necklace -- date? origin? (Jablonex?)

[Anik R]

I got this marvelous glass bead necklace today and was wondering if it's possible to date it and/or identify the glassworks?

It is a heavy piece.  Each bead has 15 sides (not including the 2 sides with the holes) and is 5mm wide.  The beads are black-ish with some aventurine ( brownish-gold) inclusions.  The clasp looks old (the inside has turned green), although there are no markings.

I would greatly appreciate some help.     Thank you for looking.

[antiquerose123]

Hi Anik -- Super necklace there!!!

I have not idea yet, but I am just wondering IF you hold it up to the light - are the beads black -- or a dark amethyst (purple) ??  Just wondering if you have tried that.  Clasp looks maybe late 60's/70's type -- but I could very well be wrong too...lol

When do we get a pic of you wearing them...?   

[Anik R]

The beads are black, covered in brownish-gold.  Nope, no picture of me wearing them, but if my cunning plan to escape for a weekend works out, I will wear the necklace to the National Glass Fair on the 14th of November. 

[Anne]

Anik, this is a brilliant site for dating findings used in jewellery. The site's worth bookmarking as you'll find it fascinating, I'm sure: http://www.morninggloryantiques.com/JewelChat.htm

[Anik R]

Thank you, Anne!  Will do. 

[Ivo]

...if my cunning plan to escape for a weekend works out, I will wear the necklace to the National Glass Fair on the 14th of November. 

fascinating idea!

[jinxi]

The clasp is a simple plated barrel type with internal screw and these have been in use for the last 50+ or so years, are still widely and cheaply available and will not help you date this. 

I am also not sure that it is glass.  Think it is mineral gemstone, possibly cassiterite, which is heavy and has a dull or slightly greasy lustre. 

Don't know if you are familiar with hematite jewellery, which is better known, but think cassiterite is of a similar weight to do this.

Probably manufactured in India where a lot of such materials are now worked.

That's my guess anyway!

Veronica

[Anik R]

Hmmm...  so now I'm lost. 

I decided to take drastic measures...  I removed one bead from the necklace and crushed it.  Some of it turned into a fine powder, some of it turned into shiny needle-like splinters, and the larger pieces (shiny on the inside) are pictured below.  I do think the beads are glass.  Can anyone help? 

[jinxi]

I would still say mineral!  One way in which you may be able to tell is how the holes are drilled.  Similar mineral type beads normally have irregularities in the way individual beads are drilled, not all aligned correctly and accurately unless very, very high class stuff, line a few beads up together, holes uppermost and see whether you think they are identical or each varying slightly.  That may tell you.  Also, the drilled channel appears different to the body of the beads, which would again suggest mineral to me.

[Ivo]

The fracture - I am informed from a reliable source - is a concoidal fracture which only occurs in hard non-cristalline structures. If it is natural, it can only be a natural glass. The conclusion: this is a glass. My conclusion: man made, in Jablonec.

 :thup: