Old Glass Blue Beads Nepal 30 Inch

Glass beads have been part of human ornamentation for thousands of years, with some traditions going back at least 3,000 years globally as objects of trade, adornment, and status. In Nepal, while beadmaking wasn’t an ancient indigenous craft like in Mesopotamia or Egypt, glass beads became integrated into the region’s material culture through centuries of trade and cultural exchange with neighboring areas. Glass beads were both imported and, in some periods, locally produced or reworked into traditional forms.

In the 18th–19th centuries, imported glass seed beads arrived in Nepal from Europe and China. Later, beads from the Czech lands — known for high-quality glass — became valued additions to local bead markets. Many vintage Nepalese beads are themselves products of this complex exchange of materials and ideas.

This strand is not intended to be a ready-to-wear necklace. Although the strand can be worn "as is," the string holding it together is not durable and may break with use. For this reason, we recommend that you restring the beads before wearing them.

Strand Length: 30 inches (including string/raffia)
Bead Size: 15-23 mm diameter. See penny photo for comparison.

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