Friday 23 November 2012

What Are Chevron Beads?

What a neat old bead I stumbled across on the web!

It is a 7 layer clear striped chevron. It is comprised of white, aqua, white, brick red, white, clear outer layers covering 6 blue and 3 each aqua and brick red stripes. Faceted and 9mm x 9mm. 1600s/1700s
Wow!



According to Wikipedia,
"Venetian chevron beads are drawn beads, made from glass canes, which are shaped using specifically constructed star moulds. The first chevron beads were made towards the end of the 15th century, consisting of 7 layers of alternating colours. They usually have 6 facets. Unlike their later counterparts, they were not always made with the standard 12-point star mould. By the beginning of the 20th century, 4 and 6-layer chevron beads appear on various sample cards. According to records kept at the Societa Veneziana Conterie of Murano, they stopped making chevron canes during the 1950s. Chevron beads are still being made in Venice today, albeit in very small quantities."


This is a Chinese example of a chevron bead, also called a "rosette" bead. Modern, but still beautiful in it's own right.

1 comment:

  1. I've always loved chevron beads; exquisite little works of art!

    Btw, the 'shopping list' post has been postponed (pun not intended) until Monday but you'll definitely be at the top of the list! Post some pretty photos of your work this weekend!

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