Garnet-Red Vaseline Beads

Each of these beautiful 'Vaseline' red glass beads are approximately 12 x 14mm, larger and smaller thicknesses. The strand is approx. 24 inches long, and has approx. 40-45 beads. Vaseline beads come from West Africa, and were made beginning in the early 1900's. Originally, these African beads were made from glass that was enriched in 1-2% uranium oxide in order to enhance the color, causing the green and yellow ones to fluoresce brightly under a blacklight. But the use of uranium was banned in the 1940's. These beads come from and are used in Africa.