I would think if you have a store near by that specializes in beads, they could tell you what kind of thread to use. What is this - it's hard to tell from the pics but it looks really pretty. Barring not having a speciality store, Walmart has a beading section - of course you WILL NOT find anyone there who actually knows anything. If all else fails, could you use a fine guage of monofilament (fishing line)? There are also very fine metal wires as well, A lot will depend on the ...»

You know, if it's THAT fragile I think the less it's handled . . . . also, I would think keeping track of the exact order of how the beads are strung would be a total nightmare. Your first 2 pictures look like there is some sort of banding that the beads were stitched on to. Why don't you get a pretty shadow box and display them just as they are. I'd be really petrified to tackle this but this's just me!!!

I know this is going to be a project! But it sounds like the whole thing needs rebeading. To save it from falling apart further . .try laying it on contact paper or tape and then purchase a beading thread and a very thin beading needle for re-beading it - sew it on the edge of some ribbon. This is really a nice find and you could do something very nice with it . . .like adding it as a edgeing around a lamp shade or on a window shade or even on curtains ! or as curtain tie backs if you are ...»