BAKER\'S DOZEN (13) VINTAGE 40\'s-50\'s MERCURY GLASS MARDI GRAS BEADS - Japan
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BAKER\'S DOZEN (13) VINTAGE 40\'s-50\'s MERCURY GLASS MARDI GRAS BEADS - Japan:
$37.99
13 1940s-50\'s original mercury glass Mardi Gras beads made in Japan. The beads are 22-26\" and are various colors. The glass is very fragile so most of these beads that still exist have some beads that are broken. These are in good condition. A couple have minor defects most unnoticeable and a couple have one broken glass bead (See pics). Most have the original \"Made in Japan\" tag attached.My mom was a pack rat and when she died a few years ago, I found a box of old Mardi Gras glass beads from Czechoslovakia and Japan. So, all of the beads I sell are from the original owner after being caught at a Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans. I recently was forced to retire due to disability so this is my new \"hobby\". I have a lot of other items I will be putting up for sale.
Here\'s a little bit of history about the beads.
It is believed that Mardi Gras parades began in New Orleans sometime around the 1830’s. These parades typically run throughout the Carnival season, which officially begins on January 6 (the Twelfth Night of Christmas). The carnival season ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before the start of Lent. In 1872, a group of businessmen invented a King of Carnival named Rex. Alongside the people in the parades (who were dressed as high-class aristocrats), Rex tossed sugar coated almonds into the crowds. These Mardi Gras “throws” were similar to the festival customs of the English Renaissance era.
During the late 1800’s, inexpensive necklaces made of glass beads began to be tossed into the crowds by the parade krewes. The beads were an instant hit among the crowds of New Orleans residents and visiting Mardi Gras tourists. It is believed that a man dressed up as Santa Claus was the first person in a New Orleans parade to use the beads in his costume. Other tourists soon followed his lead and they began to decorate themselves with the bead necklaces.
By 1900, over 100,000 tourists traveled to New Orleans to participate in the celebration and to get some of their own Mardi Gras beads
On Feb-26-18 at 14:29:28 PST, seller added the following information:Normal wear given their age.
BAKER\'S DOZEN (13) VINTAGE 40\'s-50\'s MERCURY GLASS MARDI GRAS BEADS - Japan:
$37.99