Coppertones and Mahogany Shades

Yesterday I talked about an historical type of porcelain.

Here are the beads inspired by the lithophane.

Not backlit like the porcelain but with a polished glow.

The light shades glow, after sanding, polishing and buffing.


The dark mahogany reddish browns, the coppertones, ambers and the deep ivory cream tones.

Some with a matte finish, some polished to a bright reflective sheen. Like enameled copper or maroon glassy tints. Interlocking knots, floral swirls and delicate patterns in the beads, highlighted by the color in the depressions.

My interpretation of the lighted lithophane, in circular and oval disks, in large and small square tiles.

Ornamental, decorative, very vintage looking style. Like ceramic porcelain disks and squares.
Looking time-worn and much-handled.

They would be great set into findings, or as an oversized button closure on a knit bag.

Both front and back are patterned and colored, to make them reversible in a design. All of them have double horizontal holes side-to-side for stringing or wire work. Maybe for two strands of dyed costume pearls, or hand dyed bone beads. For two strands of seed beads, or ceramic rondelles. To use as a clasp for a closure, or the focal bead in a design.

Deep brown, amber, ivory and cream. They remind me so much of old leather bound books, the kind with the tooled leather designs on the front. Brown and aged, smooth from handling. The deep toned ones in old libraries.

What do you think?