Like their larger siblings, full-sized holiday glass ornaments, these mercury glass beads are mouth-blown into a mould, filled with metallic "silvering," and painted or colored to suit the designer's plan. The little beads are blown in a rod—comprising many connected "cells." After cooling, silvering (and, maybe coloring), the rods are cut-apart into individual beads. Finally, they are strung together.
Shown above, an eight foot string of mercury glass beads. The (large) pea-sized silver beads are punctuated with conical "spacers" colored pink, red, green and blue. Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248