Antique Venetian 2 mm Tiny Striped Black Seed Trade Beads – Old Drawn Strand

Antique Venetian 2 mm Striped Black Seed Glass Trade Beads – Old Drawn Strand

This is a beautiful matching strand of tiny 2 mm diameter Venetian seed glass trade beads. The beads are striped black and crafted as classic Conteria, perfect for collectors and jewelry makers alike.

• Size: 2 mm diameter beads
• Strand length: approx. 23 ½″ (59.5 cm) of beads
• Condition: Excellent overall. A few beads are lightly chipped (see photos), consistent with age and use.

This strand will be identical in appearance and quality to the one shown in the photographs.

History, Value & Venetian Old Drawn Seed Beads

These exquisite Conteria beads are Old Venetian Drawn Beads tiny drawn seed glass beads produced in Venice, Italy, during the early to mid‑1900s. Skilled glassworkers pulled molten glass into long thin tubes, then sliced them into uniform 2 mm beads, often adding colored stripes for decorative effect.

The black striped design is a striking example of trade bead aesthetics used extensively in African trade during the early‑mid 20th century. Such Antique Venetian seed trade beads are prized by collectors for their historical significance, fine craftsmanship, and scarcity especially in tiny sizes.

The value of these beads lies in their genuine Venetian origin, small drawn size, attractive striping, and superb preservation. Collectors and designers treasure them for both their visual appeal and their role in cultural trade history.

Conteria beads like these were made by drawing a hollow cane of glass in a furnace, then cutting it into hundreds of micro‑beads. The result is a consistent size, perfect roundness, and rich glassy finish hallmarks of Old Venetian drawn seed glass.

Visit my current selection of seed beads: Seed Beads Strands Collection
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Browse archives of other beads: Archives: Venetian, Czech & African Trade Beads