Tribalgh
Antique Banded Oval Millefiori Venetian Glass Trade Beads, 13x8mm
Antique Banded Oval Millefiori Venetian Glass Trade Beads, 13x8mm
These exquisite antique Venetian millefiori banded oval mosaic glass trade beads are a beautiful example of 19th to early 20th-century craftsmanship. Originating in Venice, these five beads showcase the iconic mosaic glasswork renowned in millefiori bead production. Once treasured in African trade, these beads have retained their rich colors and intricate patterns over a century later.
- Bead Size: 13 x 8 mm in diameter
- Quantity: Set of 5 beads
- Condition: Excellent overall; two beads display light chipping (see photos for details)
Crafted in Venice using the ancient millefiori glass-making technique, these beads are meticulously designed by layering colored glass canes to create stunning mosaic patterns, forming intricate floral and banded designs unique to each bead. Millefiori, meaning "a thousand flowers" in Italian, captures the timeless beauty and complexity of these beads, making each one a miniature work of art.
Venetian trade beads like these played a significant role in the African trade routes during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Highly prized in Ghana and across West Africa, they served as symbols of wealth, cultural heritage, and status, often exchanged in ceremonies and valued by collectors and artisans today. Own a piece of history with these unique millefiori trade beads, perfect for vintage jewelry designs or collectors of African trade artifacts.
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