Description
A beautifully preserved lot of 18 original mid-century glass bead tubes, dating to the 1940s–1950s and including a labeled example from Dorothy Flicek Industries of Chicago. Still housed in their original cork-stoppered glass tubes, these beads offer wonderful color, variety, and an authentic glimpse into America’s post-war “Make It Yourself” craft era.
This offering is for one lot of eighteen (18) vintage glass bead tubes, sold together and not individually. These charming mid-century bead assortments date to approximately the 1940s–early 1950s, a period when home jewelry-making and decorative crafts flourished across America.
One tube retains its original paper label from Dorothy Flicek Industries, Inc., Chicago, marked “Make It Yourself – Imported Beads.” The postal zone format used on the label firmly places it in the pre-ZIP code era, reinforcing the mid-century dating. The remaining tubes are unlabeled, which is entirely typical, yet all appear consistent in age, style, and original presentation.
The beads are housed in clear glass tubes with cork stoppers, a classic and now-scarce packaging style. Assorted bead types include seed beads and bugle beads in a pleasing range of colors — turquoise blues, pinks, silvers, blacks, and neutrals — many likely imported from Europe or Japan, as was common during this period.
Condition:
The beads appear unused, neatly contained, and well preserved. Glass tubes and corks show light, honest age but remain intact and display beautifully. No damage noted. Several tubes are only half full but rest are full.
Please note:
This group is intentionally offered as a single lot, preserving the integrity and visual impact of the original assortment. They have been thoughtfully presented to avoid the “craft destash bargain-bin” look and instead appeal to collectors, decorators, and serious vintage makers.
Details
Total pieces: 18 glass bead tubes
Era: circa 1940s–early 1950s
Maker: Dorothy Flicek Industries, Inc. (one labeled tube)
Materials: glass beads, glass tubes, cork stoppers
Sold as: one complete lot only
These survive far more often scattered than intact — finding 18 together is increasingly uncommon.
