Bohemian Large Colodente "Pigeon Egg" Glass Beads, Red VB_0994

These vintage glass Bohemian beads come from the West African trade, where they were held in high regard and traded for valuable commodities, from cattle to dowry. Oval- shaped beads were very popular as they were associated with fertility symbols. The beads are available in two shades of red (darker and lighter).  At least on my monitor, the photos appear darker than they seem to the naked eye. The origin of the word Colodente is Italian, however these beads are believed to be of Bohemian origin. There is no clarity on their exact age. They are likely dated to the early 1900s, but there are also hypotheses dating them earlier. Frequently referred to as "pigeon egg" or "hummingbird egg" beads, they are an excellent design choice when color is desired. They come in various shades of yellow, red, and orange. The beads in this listing are of different shades of red from soft matte to deep red, and are approximately 29x23 mm. There are 20 beads per full strand, and 10 beads in a short stra