Featured Beads... puka bead-like, red rust color. Any idea what these are called?

Basically wondering how to search similar. Any keyword for these? The beads are all slightly different in color. 3 or 4 few seem translucent, almost like glass as shown in the last back lit photo.

Not thinking any great age, but could be 70s. They are positively not plastic. They have some weight. Stone? shell? glass? Hoping someone can ID. Thanks for taking a look.

 

Gorgeous heishi beads. Carnelian?

 

I'd say carnelian.

 

Nicely strung, too.

 

Thank you, "Heishi" definitely points me in the right direction!

Any idea if the way it is strung points to a country of origin?

Appreciate the help with this.

 

@komokwa
@Taupou
And others... May know...

 

I have a couple of strings of beads that are strung that way, both African. I want to say specifically from Ghana, but I'm less sure of that.

 

Nice. Our emos do no justice

 

They look like gummi lifesavers to me. Very pretty.
I guess you can see a trend when I read about jewelry, that I seem to see some sort of candy.

 

Remember candy necklaces?

They tasted like chalk, but we always wanted them, anyway!

 

Funny, I never noticed - I thought they were genius!!

 

Love the beads. I'm with Jivvy, West African trade beads, could be from Ghana, but probably made in Europe.
My guess is either carnelian beads made in Idar Oberstein for the Africa trade, or maybe very skillfully made carnelian glass from Bohemia.

And they had that artificial, slightly sickening smell. Have I put anyone off them?

 

Jivvy, what is the name of the material of those discs again, I forgot. They were made in Europe ca 1900-1940, if I remember correctly.

Here is mine, Ashanti/Akan, with bronze pendant. I forgot the name of that symbol as well, something with fumu.... based on a saying about cooperation...
Help!

 

I used to eat the candy necklaces, but somewhere along the way the recipe changed and they were like chalk.

 

So, @Lucille.b's beads are NOT carnelian, @Any Jewelry? They're glass or some kind of smelly vulcanite?

Saying they're trade beads wouldn't be very specific to non-beaders (like me).

 

Originally Vulcanite. Then vinyl. Likely all vinyl (or other plastic) now, but as you know, in the world of sales, science is irrelevant and if people search on "vulcanite," vulcanite they shall receive.

 

That's it, thanks.

I thought they could be either carnelian beads made in Idar Oberstein, Germany, for the Africa trade, or maybe carnelian glass from Bohemia.

The smelly beads were the candy ones, not Lucille's.

 

Lol

Thanks, @Any Jewelry

Good info on Idar Oberstein carnelian at africadirect.com



Really hope @Lucille.b's are carnelian. They look it to me

 

Just back, thanks for the additional posts here. This is great information.

I know zip about this kind of thing, but decided to take a chance on it for $7 (half price day) at an estate/moving sale yesterday. Usually not what I purchase, but the former owners had some interesting vintage pieces through out the home and I'm starting to open my eyes to some other jewelry items, thanks in part, to this site.

It feels a bit better in the hand (as if not newer/made in China) which is why it caught my eye. Definitely some quirkiness to it. Several beads have chips and in between the beads is very dusty for some reason, outside not. Also there is this odd little bead at the end (photo 2) which I think IS plastic. Just one bead, a different color, the gray one. Would not be shocked if for African trade, etc. Maybe something the former owners picked up on a trip?

Interesting to google Idar-Oberstein, etc. Helpful info. Thanks!