Our line of costume metal beads is manufactured in Germany. Ava hand chooses the beads, chain and findings. Several beads are cast from our Blue Heron, Yayin and vintage plastic selection.

The beads are cast in tin, while the chain and findings are made of brass. German Metal is plated in one of four distinct finishes: 22K gold, fine silver, antiqued copper or oxidized fine silver. Each piece is matted and finished with a protective lacquer coating. Any rhinestones used are Swarovski.

Every year we strive to add innovative new style to the German Metal, and try to stay ahead of the creative curve.

We are proud to be the exclusive source for German Metal in the United States and Canada.

Ava Motherwell envisioned a bead that glowed from within, so she went to Europe in 1990 in search of realizing her vision. She had heard a rumor that European bead makers would create custom beads for jewelry designers. After much effort she found what she had been searching for. Together, with a fourth generation family of artisans, Ava designed the exquisite Yayin beads.
One of the exceptional features of the Yayin line is that they are had made from German glass, making each color batch unique. Each bead is lampworked with a silver foil lining and finally matted. These beads are made exclusively for the Ava Motherwell Collection.

The family now lives in Germany, where Ava visits them every fall to design new beads.

Ava has been dealing in vintage German beads for many years. When rare shapes and colors in her Blue Heron vintage line began to sell out, Ava commissioned a family of glass bead makers in Germany to make new beads in vintage styles and sometimes from vintage glass. Mr. Wilhelm Kittle was born in 1939 in Southern Germany. He was employed for many years at Joseph Krous & Sons, making Drucken beads (German for “push”), and in 1965 Mr. and Mrs. Kittel started their own firm. Ava met Mr. Kittle in 1997, and he and his family became her favorite people to visit in Germany. Sitting around the kitchen table eating fresh baked cakes and cookies, they would discuss what beads to make. Mr. Kittle had an amazing spirit, and is the namesake for “Old Man Beads.” We are saddened to say that Mr. Kittle has since passed away.

All of our glass buttons are hand-pressed in a family owned and operated factory in Germany that has been making buttons for over 50 years. Any painting, glazing or adding of Swarovski crystals is done by hand.

Contemporary buttons are available from our online catalog.

For years, during each trip Ava made to the factory to choose new buttons, she inquired after vintage stock. Eventually, the owner of the factory offered Ava an entire basement of overstock. Vintage buttons are first productions from 1950 through 1975, and have never been sold or used. They are available from our Whole Bead Vintage stock.