18/0 Bone white milk opal antique Murano glass micro seed beads vintage Italian

5 gram package.

Over a century ago, 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. Highly collectible, rare, and treasured by beadworkers and collectors alike.

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).

Please understand that the very small sizes of antique beads demand patience and magnification. I cannot tell you just how fascinating these tiniest of beads are, and how much I delight in working with them-- or just looking at them!