Old White Tiny 2–3 mm Venetian Seed Glass Trade Beads Strand

Old 27″ Strand of Tiny White Venetian Seed Glass Trade Beads

Here is an authentic strand of old Venetian drawn seed glass trade beads in delicate white totally identical to the strand pictured.

• Size: approximately 2–3 mm diameter per bead
• Length: about 27″ (≈ 68.5 cm) of continuous beads
• Condition: excellent no obvious wear or damage, preserved like in the photos

These genuine Venetian seed glass beads (also called Conteria or Old Venetian drawn beads) were originally made in Venice and used extensively in early to mid‑1900s African trade bead exchange.

History & Value

These old Venetian drawn beads were meticulously created in Venice using a traditional drawn‑glass technique: glass rods were heated and pulled to form long tubes, then cut into uniform tiny cylinders seed beads. This method yields high‑quality, consistent shapes prized by collectors worldwide. Their trade history in African markets adds heritage value; they remain sought‑after by bead enthusiasts, historians, and jewelry artisans.

How Venetian Conteria Beads Were Made

• Skilled Venetian glassmakers drew molten glass into long canes.
• The canes were sliced into tiny tubes (2–3 mm), then re‑fired to smooth edges.
• The result: perfectly formed, tiny seed beads each with unique character and craftsmanship.

These beads are not only beautiful, they carry centuries of Venetian glassmaking tradition and African trade heritage, making them valuable additions to any collection or jewelry design.

Explore more of our seed‑bead collections on TribalGH:

• Current seed bead strands
• Handmade jewelry offerings
• Archives of sold beads: Venetian, Czech, African