Antique Venetian drawn bead slices called Aja, 1-2mm thick by 9-12mm diameter. These feature dark blue base with fine red and white stripes plus a few bonus green and yellow ones at the back
Only one 25-inch strand available
Made in Venice, Italy, most likely early 1900s
To make these beads, striped glass canes are drawn out to great length while still soft. Once they've cooled they are sliced into sections just 1-2mm long, and these are heated until the edges are nicely rounded and smooth.
Collectors value these, and as a designer I like them too. I "frame" focal beads like amber, large brass bead and trade beads, with slices and thin rondells of various sizes. Aja beads take those "frames" to a whole new level, adding interest by picking up colors in the focals, often made of the same glass.
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