Opaque Red Mudlarked Bead Pendant

Historical Information

Find: Double-Perforated Glass Bead
Pattern/Details: Small, opaque red glass bead with two threading holes and a matte patina from age and sea wear. Slightly rectangular in form with softened edges.
Date: Circa 1800–1900 (Georgian to Victorian period)
Material: Opaque red soda-lime glass coloured with copper oxide.
Find Location: Essex Coast, England

Additional Information:
This double-perforated glass bead likely originated from 19th-century European production, possibly Bohemian or Venetian, where such beads were made for trade, jewellery, and rosary use. The dual threading holes suggest it may have been part of a decorative strip or garment trim rather than a simple necklace. Opaque red glass, valued for its coral-like hue, was popular in Victorian fashion and devotional items. Weathered by time and tide, the bead now bears the softness of age — a small survivor of craftsmanship, commerce, and adornment, reimagined as wearable art.