For over 80 years Kraemer & Feldmann / H&V Trading have been the representative for Preciosa Ornela (previously known as Jablonex) in Southern Africa. Through three generations the organization has coordinated the importing of glass seed beads from the Czech Republic.

Produced since the 16^th century, in the northern Czech Bohemian region, in the Jizera Mountains, this region is still home to the largest and widest bead production in the world.  In 1858 Josef Riedel established glass making factories in the region, and grew the ranges and industry. By the end of the 19^th century Czech beads were available all over the world, and started to be used by indigenous people to represent their cultures and traditions.

Preciosa Ornela seed beads have several outstanding features especially when it comes to their range of shapes. Made in dozens of different designs and variants, the most well know are the round seed beads (rocailles), which have a round or angular hole. The unique coloured glass used to produce the seed beads also makes the beads unrivalled and they have a wide spectrum of shades and colours including black, transparent, alabasters, atlases and opaque.

The unique quality of Preciosa Ornela seed beads lies in a symbiosis of these four basic features of the brand; their unique and perceptible shape consistency as well as their uniform size and colour shade consistency. To ensure Preciosa Ornela beads meet the most stringent of quality standards, it was necessary to develop a resistant surface treatment that has proved invaluable in order to meet the demanding requirements of clientele.

Preciosa Ornela
https://www.preciosa-ornela.com/en

Beadwork from Southern Africa
https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/ewKSDPLRFbzfIg