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Japanese foil beads circa 1950, not sure if that coppery color smear is a smear of glass or copper colored foil. I won't break one open to find out, not important anyway because knowing or not knowing is not going to change anything. The bead is the bead as it is said, "the bead goes on". Measures 9x11mm oval, slightly milky milk glass. Lot of 12 is $13.50, Order Item #BDVN5511.

White swirl greens, translucent as you see. Japan. Made in 1954. Measure 14-15mm. Irregular shape. Sold in lots of 12 for $15 . Order BDVN5425.

Firstly we have this oval, see how all the beads in the group go together? These ovals are 8x12mm in size, this is an earthtone group. They fit together automatically, the first company to produce this sort of thing was soon followed by almost every other manfacturer so it is hard to really tell who was first. These were from the Star bead company of Japan originally, around 1953. A lot of 12 is $9. Order Item #BDVN2592.

Agreen-blue group they are rounds and measure about 12mm Lot of 12 is $12.00 . Order Item #BDVN2593.

Well these pretty much match the ones above, sort of, so I put them here. They are still in the league of coordinated beads, bicones they are, and they measure 10x12mm Lot of 12 is $9.00 . Order Item #BDVN2590.

BIG beads from 1952, they measure 10x17mm so they go really far in terms of going far. 17mm is about 3/4 of an inch. One bead covers the same area in distance as three six millimeter beads would. So obviously you need a lot less beads to go the distance. They are a beautiful Spring green with a silver foil inside that reflects the Spring green and they seem to give off an aura thusly of Spring green. Beautiful beads and believe me, I've seen a lot of beads in my day so if I tell you beautiful you can believe it. I do not have too many. Sold in lots of 12 for $18, Order Item #BDVN5517.

Pink striped ovals from Czechoslovakia, again 1952, they measure 9x12mm, ovals. Pink was always a tough color to come by because there was a lot of loss when pink glass was used, I don't know why but I do remember my father telling me so when I was a lot shorter than I am now. You don't find many pink beads in vintage so when you do it is a good idea to grab them as they tend to disappear fast. At $12 a lot for a dozen it is cheap considering the rarity of the color in general, and I do not have too many anyway. I have others, yes, but do a count and see how many. Not many at all. After snooping around in my stash all these years I have come up with less than six varieties. Order Item #BDVN5494.

That golden glow you see there, that is really in the bead. Has something to do with the type of glass used when they were made, I have a few like that, maybe another 2 or 3. Light Topaz surrounds black, brown and white stripes, really a magnificent bead. I would call it a tiger bead due to the stripes. Measure 11x14mm, over half an inch long. A lot of 12 is $15.00, one of the prettiest beads you will ever encounter. Order Item #BDVN5487.

This bead would qualify as a sand painting if it were a sand painting bead. Maybe it is, who knows? Definitely looks like one but then again it is glass, but then again glass in its primal state is sand, so I guess it is. Italy 1951, Measures 10x16mm barrel shape. Lot of 12 is $15, these are really super pretty and vary bead to bead as shown. Order Item #BDVN4238.

Four basic colors that work with almost anything, especially themselves. From Japan about 1950, these are the large beads you see on TV on the lady announcers these days there is nothing new under the land of the Rising Sun! Very popular in the early 50's, seems they are popular once more. They are irregular in shape and measure about 20mmx27mm, just over an inch long. All except the black are translucent. Sold in lots of 6 for $7.50. Order Item #2500, by color, see pull down menu.