Indian Glass Bead Round 8mm Rose Blue | Pack of 10

Indian Glass Kiln Beads offer a distinctive aesthetic from simple to intricate, featuring detailed designs on the surface such as these roses. The roses 'float' within the clear transparent glass and are made by dotting glass and then drawing a tool through the blob of glass to make the pretty floral pattern. It takes a 'master' of bead making to make these all look the same!

Use these beads in bracelets, necklaces or earrings where you want a splash of colour. The 8mm size works well as a focal point or spaced between smaller beads. They are universally used by lace makers to weight their wooden bobbins as well as to make thier bobbins look pretty. 

To create the surface treatment, the glass is heated with a flame torch and carefully applied to a mandrel to form the bead shape. This process requires a high level of skill to ensure the bead retains its structure. During production, as the bead cools, the exterior shrinks while the interior remains hot and expanded, which can cause cracking. To prevent this, beads are annealed in a kiln where the temperature is slowly reduced, making the final product stronger and more resistant to breaking.

Indian glass beads often arrive with a dusty white or grey coating. This material is called "kiln wash" or "slip," which is used to help the bead release from the wire during production. You can easily remove it by rinsing the beads with tepid water or wiping them with a cloth.

Shape: Round
Size: 8mm with large hole
Colour: Blue roses