Discover this exquisite old Venetian drawn seed bead strand, vintage tiny and striped in bright yellow glass a perfect match to the piece shown in the photograph.
Size: approx. 3 mm diameter per bead
Length: approx. 27″ (68 cm) of continuous beads
Condition: excellent vintage condition, identical to the photographed strand
These are authentic Old Venetian Drawn Beads, also known as Venetian Seed beads, Conteria beads, or tiny drawn seed beads, made in Venice and used in African trade during the early to mid‑1900s.
History, Value & Manufacturing
The history of these CONTERIA drawn beads is deeply woven into the trade routes between Venice and Africa. Hand‑drawn in Venice, each tiny bead was created by heating glass, forming a hollow tube, and pulling it while hot to achieve uniform, delicate dimensions. Once cooled and cut, the beads were smoothed and often striped or patterned before being strung for trade. They carry both cultural and historical significance, highly valued by collectors for their craftsmanship and provenance. Today they offer a tangible connection to early 20th century trade and Venetian glassmaking traditions.
