Boshan glass beadsfrom "Boshan" in Shandong province
One of China’s oldest and most important glassmaking centers, active from at least the Ming dynasty and flourishing in the Qing period.
Material:
Soda-lime glass
Technique:
Hand-formed beads with applied hot trails (zigzag, wave, feather, or scroll motifs)
Colors:
Green, red, transperent.
Finish:
Small bubbles, gentle asymmetry, trails that sink slightly into the body (a good sign, not a flaw)
Typical Boshan look: Rounded or ovoid shapes, rarely perfectly symmetrical.
Worn on ethnic jewelry, garments, rosaries, and accessories.Used by Han Chinese and minority groups.
Traded inland and along caravan routes - these beads traveled more than most people of their time.
Dating:
Most collectible Boshan beads on today’s market date to:
Late 19th – early 20th century Earlier examples exist but are rarer and usually sit in museum drawers, not eBay listings.
Respected and collectible, especially with strong trail decoration
Less expensive than Venetian millefiori, but more authentic than later tourist glass