Bohemian Medium Colodente "Pigeon Egg" Glass Beads, Red VB_0993

These vintage drawn glass Bohemian beads come from the West African trade, where they were held in high regard and were traded for valuable commodities, from cattle to dowry. Oval-shaped beads were very popular as they were associated with fertility symbols. 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 are available in full-strand, half-strand, and single beads. The beads in this listing are approximately 23x19 mm. There are 24-25 beads per full strand, and 10 beads in a short strand. You can choose the strand and the shade at checkout. Some of the beads show substantial patina from the age. A few beads have