3mm to 4mm Red Orange Whiteheart antique tubes bugles Murano glass seed beads vintage Italian Cornaline D'Allepo

10 gram package. As you can see from the second photo, these hand-cut beads vary in length, mostly averaging between 3 and 4mm, with a diameter of about 2.5mm. They have an amazing depth of color.

In the early 20th century, these rare beads were painstakingly hand manufactured by master craftsmen in the fabled Societa Veneziana Conterie glass factories of Murano, Italy. The slight irregularities in size and shape are an expected and natural result of the production process, which is a lost art.

This style of bead, known as a whiteheart, Hudson Bay bead, or Cornaline D'Allepo bead, was created with a colored overlay on a white core in order to control the color of the bead as well as to extend the expensive pink glass, which used gold in its manufacture. This creates a stunning effect.

The photo of the bead card shows what one inch of each size of seed bead looks like. Modern beads typically come in sizes 6/0 (not shown), 8/0, 10/0 (not shown), 11/0, and 15/0. There is a noticeable difference among manufacturers, and the diameter/thickness ratio varies greatly in both modern and antique beads, which can cause differences of opinion in sizing. The fourth column shows the delightful variety of sizes formerly made by hand in the storied bead factories of Italy and France, all the way down to 25/0. These beads can be strung with a Size 15 John James needle (not included).

Nothing shown in the photos other than the beads is included in your purchase.