Beijing Enamel Factory and Chinese Cloisonne Beads

The August 2021 issue of Bead Forum, a semi-annual publication of the Society of Bead Researchers, features an article by me and Rosanna Falabella (editor) on the devolution of Chinese cloisonne beads from the early decades of the Beijing Enamel Factory into the present.

Devolution of Floral Patterns on Chinese Cloisonne Beads and the Parallel HIstory of the Beijing Enamel Factory

Lush example of intricate beads, likely circa 1970s.

Moving counter clockwise around the necklace, the themes on each individual bead are:

1. Phoenix (Feng huang) and peony blossom
2. Red-crowned crane
3. Goldfish with pond weed - side view of fish with only one eye - a version unique to this necklace?
4. Blossom branch
5. Grapevine with leaves, coiled tendril, grapes
6. Double fish on one side; Castanets on the other (See Wikipedia article below about the Immortal Lan Caihe)
7. Blossom branch
8. Lotus blossom with sacred ribbons;  Red vase/jar with ribbons
9. Blossom branch
10. Blossom branch
11. Gourd vine with leaves, blossom, vine, gourds
12. Feng huang and peony blossom
13. Gourd vine
14. Blossom branch
15. Grapevine
16. Castanets; Double fish
17. Lotus blossom with ribbons; Turquoise vase/jar with ribbons
18. Peach tree branch with blossoms and peaches
19. Blossom branch
20. Blossom branch
21. Lotus with ribbons; Red vase/jar with ribbons
22. Grapevine
23. Goldfish
24. Goldfish
25. Gourd vine
26. Grapevine
27. Lotus with ribbons; Red vase/jar with ribbons
28. Blossom branch

Filigree clasp has a rounded base, stamped "SILVER MADE IN CHINA."

Wikipedia article on the gender-ambiguous Lan Caihe and the other Eight Immortals and their symbols.

An early example of the blossom branch in a necklace of matching 15mm beads, demonstrating work by an older craftsman before the design was abbreviated and simplified so less skilled new employees could manage it.

Two beads are different.