Tribalgh
Rare Antique Large Venetian Elbow Millefiori Mosaic Glass Trade Bead
Rare Antique Large Venetian Elbow Millefiori Mosaic Glass Trade Bead
Discover the allure of this antique Venetian millefiori elbow trade bead, a stunning piece that exemplifies Venetian craftsmanship from the early 1900s. Known for its rarity and intricate design, this bead features a multimurrine pattern with delicate trail decoration—a true collector's gem that has traveled through time as part of African trade history. Sourced from Picard's Volume VI, page 37, it aligns with bead #668, further highlighting its importance in bead scholarship.
Size:
- Length: 53 mm
- Width: 14 mm
Condition:
- Very good (minor chipping at ends; please refer to photos)
The elaborate design process behind these mosaic millefiori beads involved layering slices of colorful glass canes, known as murrine, and melting them into detailed floral and geometric patterns. Each bead was crafted in Venice, Italy, where artisans perfected this technique to produce glass pieces with mesmerizing, multi-dimensional patterns. Millefiori beads became highly prized in African markets, especially in Ghana, where they were exchanged as symbols of wealth and status, bridging cultures and continents through trade.
For more exquisite millefiori beads, explore TribalGH’s collections:
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