Beaded African Violet

Thought I'd share my beaded African Violet. I have a "thing" for anything made of beads. Bought this in an antique shop a few yrs ago, the owner said it was from approx 1900. The beads are glass, and it is in very good shape. There are 15 flowers. It doesn't photograph well. And I have never been able to come up with a good way to display it.

Does anyone else have any "fake" AV items? At the AV show I went to a few weeks back, there was a porcelain painting group there, with a huge table full of absolutely beautiful porcelain dishes, vases, etc, hand painted with African violets. I am kicking myself for not buying anything!

That is so cool! I love it! There is actually a member of "another forum" who makes beaded violets. Sadly, I rarely have extra $$ for such things, and nowhere to put it! LOL! My violets take up all my space!

I don't even remember what I paid...I am sure they weren't cheap, but probably not a ridiculous price either. Maybe around $30-ish. I probably would not have paid that amount for a newer piece, even though with all the work that goes into them, they are worth it and more, but for something prob over 100 yrs old, and a more rare find, a $30 range is fair.

I've seen some amazing beaded flowers online, and imagine all the work that goes into making them, some are so intricate!

That is really beautiful and so unique! I do remember a year or so ago someone on one of the forums talking about beaded violets, it may have been the craft forum?

$30 sounds like a great price for something so unique and pretty and over a hundred years old!

Lin--it was on another AV forum--recently.
And $30 seems more than fair to me--a bargain even!

This message was edited May 28, 2009 12:16 PM

I have one. It was given to me by my father's wife, after I had mentioned how pretty it was. She handed it to me, and insisted I keep it.
I refused until I realized I would hurt her feelings, If I kept it up, so accepted with glee.

I love it. I actually bought several beading books recently, so I could someday make some

My husbands mother saw it on one of her visits and commented on how she has a vase full of some really similar.

I guess it was more popular many years ago, but they are making a small come-back.

There was a lady on ebay selling some, and I was so very tempted to buy more, but got the books, instead

ooh--I like that one too!

I've never seen beaded violets before till now. Wow, what a lot of intricate work!

The only violet object I have is an old Nippon sugar bowl with much of the applied gold worn off. I have used it in the past as a cache pot for a mini violet and had forgotten all about it.

gorgeous!

I love old China, chips and wear included--used to have quite a bit of it. Your piece is lovely!

I know what you mean. I feel the older pieces had charm or something intangible hard to describe unlike the dime a dozen mass produced stuff we see so much of today in chain stores. It has it's place I guess but well worn old pieces have character.

I agree--absolutely!

I love old china too, I love that Rachel Ashwell shabby chic style - not too overdone though, no ruffles and not too many flowers or chipped furniture - just the real simple and clean white stuff, maybe just a few flowers. And she uses old china for her every day dishes, no matter if it is worn out and slightly chipped, the point is just that you like it!

That's a pretty little sugar bowl, and Seedpicker I love your beaded violets! I have a book on beading too, and last I looked at the bookstore, there are alot of magazines on it....I just don't think I have the patience to work with all those teeny tiny beads!