| Original Message: Poppy vs Lotus - And Naming Issues |
|---|
|
It is a curious fact that among antiquarians (authorities probably followed by sellers), there has been a history of referring to the lobed form in items from Egypt (and perhaps elsewhere) as "lotus pods." These are CLEARLY poppy seed heads. What absent-minded professor may have begun this is unknown to me. But I imagine the importance of the lotus flower (and parts of the flower or seed head) may have been foremost in that person's head. But it's a mistake that has been repeated with considerable frequency. It is virtually a cliché. Here in the US, we do not have melons that have lobed forms. Our melons are basically ellipsoidal. Some have longitudinal line divisions (like the watermelon), but not actual expressed convexities. The "melon shape," to me, looks more like a pumpkin (a squash). One variety of Venetian rosetta bead—the beads I refer to as "late 19th C. a speo beads," are typically made from star canes with green exteriors, and reformed into rounded elongated shapes. (Sometimes also flattened into tabular beads.) The starry layers of the (typically) third white layer, cause a variegation in the tones of the external green. Since the 1970s, these have been called "watermelon chevron beads" (although technically they are not chevron beads, having NOT been cut to reveal inner layers). In the 1990s, the "water" part of the name was dropped by many bead sellers here in the US, and these Venetian beads (including other non-starry late a speo beads of any description and color combination) were suddenly called "melon beads." Since these beads are not even remotely lobed, I have discouraged this impractical naming. It just adds another confusing layer onto an already foggy, and misunderstood list of popular names. Opps! It's time for me to pack my bag and head to the airport.... Jamey All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
|
|