ArtFire

Amazing vintage oval etched brass beads that we found at an outdoor market in Ventimiglia , Italy more than 30 years ago, while on our way to Nice, France. I was always looking for interesting beads with LOTS of texture to incorporate into the beaded necklaces I was designing for the Smithsonian. This bead has a delicate diamond design etched on it which is what drew me to it immediately! I've never seen beads like this since finding them so many years ago.

These are 11mm x 17mm raw yellow brass beads and although I've had them for 30 years there is only a bit of patina and a few spots of tarnish, which gives them an almost 'coppery' antique look. This bead is identical to M-52, which is approximately 13 x 20 mm.

I used these as focal beads in a couple of designs I did for Bloomingdales where I mixed them with frosted black glass and some of the metallic "gold" West German glass spacer beads I have also listed under vintage glass beads.

Price is for 2 of these 11mm x 17mm beads and I 100% guarantee them to be vintage from the late 1970's if not much earlier.

You'll never see beads like this nowadays at your neighborhood "gem show"!

vintage brass bead, vintage raw brass bead,oval brass bead, recycled brass bead