Glass stones & beads		Lucite Plastic Beads
	Cabochons & settings

Create unique pieces from our vintage treasures most of which are sourced globally. We have delightful tales of purchasing sample ranges from retired Czech men who formally worked in the bead and jewellery trade. These men often speak little English and like most from their generation store all their forgotten treasures in the house cellar. Other stock has been purchased at auctions and other random contacts. Our vintage stock is:

• Usually a combination of sample ranges & over productions which have never been sold or used;
• Circa 1920s to 1980s;
• A collection of one-of-a-kind pieces;
• Products include beads, settings, cabochons, buttons & jewellery;
• Materials include Czech glass & enamel, Swarovski© crystal, Lucite plastic,
• Are of a high quality & craftsmanship;
• Will make your designs unlike any others;
• and supplies are, of course, limited.

Our collection is available in our Newtown store, on line and at the Love Vintage bi annual Sydney shows. See Hot News for show dates. Stock changes regularly and you will discover new treasures in the collection every time you visit us. They may be here today, and gone tomorrow! First in best dressed!

French Jet Glass Stones (circa 1920s)

French Jet or crepe stone is black glass or black crystal. (not fossilized wood). Manufactured from the late 1800s in the former Czechoslovakia using hand cutting techniques these beads are flat on one side and cut on the other with 2 holes drilled through them. They are extremely versatile. Mount them on filigree stampings, sew them onto garments and string them to create unique bracelets and chokers. Note: they have either the makers mark on the back or some have decorative etchings which makes them reversible. Like all glass, it will be colder to the touch and heavier than Whitby jet or vulcanite.

Cabochons. (circa 1950s-1960s)

Most of our stocks originate from the Czech Republic, West Germany and Japan.

Cabochons are usually a highly polished, convex shaped, un-faceted gem with a flat back for mounting. Use them in a setting mount to create a brooch, ring or centerpiece; use them with a seed bead stitched bezel, wrap them with wire or set them into PMC designs, Cabochons are not beads, and do not have holes!

Lamp Glass Cabochons are made by hand over a glassworker’s burner. Initially, they were made to imitate natural precious stones. Other cabochons are copies of Limoges images, some are hand painted whilst others are decals on the domed surface. Cameos are avail in glass, porcelain and acrylic plastic.

Lucite Plastic (circa 1960s-early 1980s)

is a material that has both properties of plastic and glass and mirrors the clarity of glass. Lucite is heavier in “feel” compared to traditional plastics and is of the highest quality. Lucite was discovered in 1931 by Du Pont chemists. It was among the first plastics derived from petrochemicals and was sold to jewellery manufacturers after the war. Beads were mass produced in the 1960’s – early 1980s using this material.