17th century or earlier.
These very special beads are known as Nueva Cádiz, named for the location off the coast of Venezuela where they were first found in an archaeological site. They are some of the most desirable among collectors and some of the most beautiful! We are calling them Murano (Venice) but they could also have been made in Bohemia (Czechoslovakia), another great producer of glass and glass beads for centuries. Jewels had a collection she carefully put away years and years ago and subsequently forgot about them. It was like discovering a great treasure lost at sea when we came upon the box again. We only have a few left now.
This single gorgeous bead is the center of our hand woven cord, a partnership of restraint and beauty.
One of a kind
Bead: 1.5 x .25 x .25″
Necklace length: approximately 20″
A note about our woven cords. We weave these by hand, every one of them. Like all Jewels’ work no two are exact, as each of us. The work is labor intensive. When warmed to the skin the cord becomes more supple, conforms to the wearer, hangs at it should; the necklace transforms more than just a necklace. It becomes her.