Catalog: Archives: Estate Jewelry (1)

Genuine Czech GLASS Mardi Gras necklaces or “beads” were produced exclusively in 1920’s and 1930’s Czechoslovakia, for use during the Pre-Lenten or Carnival celebrations of New Orleans, Louisiana. With the pre-World War II, German invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939, Czech production of the glass necklaces was halted and was never again resumed.

70 years later, these gorgeous Czech Glass Mardi Gras beads are not only highly collectible but are becoming more increasingly scarce with each passing year. Use of color, shape, and form vary from one necklace to the next, with no two necklaces exactly alike.

Measuring 16 ¾” in length, this necklace is constructed of a series of small, faceted yellow glass beads that accent 9 red disc-shaped beads alternately placed between the yellow beads. (Please note that the red beads appear orange in the photos but that is simply a trick of the lighting- they are indeed red!!!) Striking color contrast! Attached is the ORIGINAL PAPER TAG reading “Made in Czechoslovakia”.

All Czech Mardi Gras necklaces were originally strung using a thin, cotton thread that has naturally aged and weakened over the past 70+ years, and thus, are easily prone to breakage. Because of the fragility of the original cotton threading, this necklace has been professionally restrung using a stainless steel, "C" hook closure, and jeweler's, nylon-coated, stainless steel wire to ensure stability and safety when worn.