This is a very beautiful set of old Murano Wedding Cake Beads.
The beads are all very Art Deco in style - probably 1920s or 1930s in date.
They form a longer length necklace that is 24 inches (61 cm) in length - and is made up of 17 large decorated blue beads and 16 of the pretty smaller pink glass spacer ones.
These beads are totally exquisite - and date to the early 20th Century.
They are certainly quality items made in Murano, Venice.
I have taken lots of close-up images of this lovely necklace.
As you can see - all the blue beads are formed from a vibrant turquoise / sky-blue coloured glass - with a finely applied lace trail of gold aventurines on top of each bead - on the glittering gold foils are applied tiny pink glass decorations in the shape of tiny roses - and little dots of blue and white glass dots representing little forget-me-nots.
As a mark of quality - each bead is then embellished with a gold metal bead cap (with tiny applied black enamel dots) top and bottom of each blue bead. These are fine additions to this set.
All the blue beads are in excellent condition with no damage.
In between each blue bead are spacers - a selection of little simple sugar-pink beads and smaller clear (pearl-like) lampwork glass beads.
The necklace fastens with its original screw barrel clasp.
These are probably items for the more specialist collector - who will recognize the quality of this set. They are simply so opulent and luxurious - the colours are so subtle and pretty. Nice length and would sit nicely across your upper chest - so great to wear with a simple high-necked black sweater - which would show this set to its best advantage.
HISTORY: These old beads are made in Murano and are called "fiorato" style. This term means that they are "floral" and feature patterns made up of tiny flowers - that have been all hand-painted on the glass using a thin glass cane - this is now held over a flame so that the glass all melts together. The decoration on each little bead a very labour intensive - and they can really be considered miniature works of art. At this level - they are created by some of the most talented glassblowers in Venice.
Each bead on my necklace has been created one at a time and the intricate layering, tiny raised details and hand decoration are similar to the piped icing on a wedding cake (hence the nickname). Each set of wedding cake beads is unique and always slightly different - no two strands are identical - and often the quality can vary depending on the skill of the craftsman.
Obviously, my price reflects the age and top quality of all these lovely hand-made Venetian beads going to make up this beautiful old necklace.
UK Postage will be charged at £4.95 for Special Next Day Delivery with the Royal Mail.