Vintage Japanese "Stone" Glass Beads

You’ve read in previous ‘vintage showcases’ how the Japanese glass houses ca. 1940’s were trying to replicate the ‘precious stones’ that were in vogue during the 30’s and 40’s. The jewelry buying public was being introduced to ‘junque jewellery’ in answer to the industrial period. The common population now had new things to invest in aside from fine jewelry - household appliances to try, various modes of transportation to invest in and a newly revolutionized era of technology was capturing the current economy and household funds. Glass replications of stone fell into this ‘junque jewellery’ category and glass houses were working to answer the demand. Stones that were commonly emulated in glass were Jade, Jet or Onyx, Lapis and Turquoise. We have a nice collection of a few ‘junque gems’ made in the 1940’s in Japan.

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Vintage Swarovski Comet 

This finish is no longer produced by Swarovski nor has it been for some many years now. It is an ‘antique gold’ metallic coating and they used a 24k gold leaf over a crystal base to achieve it. You won’t find a richer metallic gold coating in the current and lovely line of Swarovski products, so it’s a color to be hoarded and cherished. Sometimes you’ll find that these beads will actually look ‘speckled’ or dull with a black or gray yuck, dulling the sheen. This is actually oxidation taking place in the metals on the glass or crystal bead. In most cases, you can simply rub them with your thumb or finger and the tarnish will be removed and they will look remarkably revived and polished.

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Vintage Japanese Glass Tipped Wires

I was so excited to stumble upon more of these in a recent buying trip – I used to see them all over the place and I had picked up a lot in Europe 12 years ago. But lately I haven’t been seeing them, so Yay! These are ca. 1940’s glass tipped wires, commonly used against filigree plaques and backings to wire sculptural beaded work onto clasps and other components. The glass pieces were lampworked and then pressed with molds in a 2-step, hand-wrought process. Wires are typically a raw metal such as brass and vary in lengths. These also make great ‘headpins’ to add some flair to drop earrings and pendants or can be worked into charms for charm bracelets.

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Vintage Japanese Glass Tin Cut Beads

This cutting technique was common in the Japanese glass cutting houses ca. 1950’s. Beads or stones were placed onto a notched wooden stick and the cutter would press them against a tin wheel which created the facets. If you look closely at ‘tin cut’ beads you will notice that no two facets are exactly the same. These incredibly skilled cutters applied this age-old lapidary technique to leaded glass in the 1940’s and thank goodness they did. The look that is created has such an elegant and hand wrought quality. Hint – if you love tin cut beads, stay tuned. I have recently unearthed a new stash that wasn’t able to make it online for this mailing – but check out this amazing stash.

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