Bohemian Medium Colodente "Pigeon Egg" Glass Beads, Red VB_0993
These vintage drawn glass Bohemian beads come from the West African trade, where they were held in high regard and were traded for valuable commodities, from cattle to dowry. Oval-shaped beads were very popular as they were associated with fertility symbols.
The origin of the word Colodente is Italian, however these beads are believed to be of Bohemian origin. There is no clarity on their exact age. They are likely dated to the early 1900s, but there are also hypotheses dating them earlier. Frequently referred to as "pigeon egg" or "hummingbird egg" beads, they are an excellent design choice when color is desired. They come in various shades of yellow, red, and orange.
The beads are available in full-strand, half-strand, and single beads.
The beads in this listing are approximately 23x19 mm. There are 24-25 beads per full strand, and 10 beads in a short strand. You can choose the strand and the shade at checkout. Some of the beads show substantial patina from the age. A few beads have some chips in them, but the beads are mostly in very good antique condition.
Beads do show age, with age-appropriate nicks and chips. Please see the photos for specifics.
Weights and sizes are approximate.
IMPORTANT NOTE. In the world of beads, and especially ancient and antique beads, errors in identification are common. We do our best to research and classify our beads accurately, however mistakes are certainly possible. If you are a bead expert and notice any errors in the description, we invite you to please contact us and let us know. We are always grateful for any new information. We also accept returns no questions asked. See our Return Policy for details.
COLORS: Our photos are taken in different lighting in an attempt to show how beads look in different lighting conditions. We make every effort to show colors as accurately as possible. The white background photos are taken in daylight conditions. The black background photos are taken in the strong lab light, and would be representative of what they would look like in the evening electric light. Some of the photos are backlit to emphasize their translucency. Note that monitor settings strongly affect the way the colors look. What you see on your monitor may differ from what you see with a naked eye depending on your monitor settings.
WE COMBINE SHIPPING and will refund any overage. Contact us when placing the order and we will work with you to ensure the best available shipping cost.
