The listing, 1948 Bracelet Ragusa Yugoslavia Vintage Mother of Pearl Beads has ended.
Up for auction is a bracelet or maybe just some loose beads that have been put on elastic. It doesn't seem sturdy enough to be a bracelet, and if it were to be used as such, I would certainly re-string on something more sturdy. And they could be mixed with other vintage beads to make a stunning necklace! There are enough beads that would fit a medium to large wrist if made into a bracelet, and a smaller wrist by just eliminating one or two.
Beads were brought back from Ragusa in Yugoslavia around 1948, and given by a patient to a nurse that had taken care of her for some time. It is unclear whether the beads were already in the form of a bracelet, or if the person just kept them this way to keep them together. At some point, she tagged them with the name of the town and country, and the tag was on them when they were given.
These beads are naturally shaped, and no two are exactly the same. Some sides will be flatter, and some rounder, and some beads more oblong then others, as you can notice in the scans. There are no holes in the sides of the beads as it may appear; that is just where the flatter side touched the scanner top.
I had a hard time researching these, for Ragusa changed hands several times throughout history. It was, indeed, a possession of Yugoslavia from about 1945 til the early 1990s. Hence the note attached to the beads.
They are labeled as mother of pearl, and they are lovely! Please ask any questions before bidding and I will try to answer. However I think I have stated everything I know, and the previous owner (nurse they were given to) has passed away.
The quarter is not included. It is just to show approximate size of beads. :)