Antique Venetian Oval Millefiori Mosaic Glass Trade Beads - 1900s African Trade

These exquisite Venetian millefiori mosaic glass trade beads showcase a charming, oval shape and vibrant mosaic designs crafted with exceptional skill in early 1900s Venice, Italy. Millefiori, or "thousand flowers," is a time-honored glasswork technique that brings forth intricate floral patterns within each bead, creating a beautiful array of colors and textures that is unique to each piece. These beads are a wonderful representation of the rich cultural and artisan history embedded within Venetian glass.

• Size: 14-15 mm in length
• Diameter: 8-9 mm

• Condition: Very good condition. One bead shows light chipping, and some display slight beveling. Please refer to photos for details.

Originally crafted in Venice, these beads were traded extensively across Africa and held significant cultural value within communities, especially in West Africa and Ghana. Millefiori beads were valued not only for their beauty but also as a form of currency, symbolizing status and tradition within African societies. Each bead’s unique patterns were achieved by layering molten glass rods to form intricate, colorful mosaics, an art form perfected by Venetian craftsmen.

Today, these rare and antique beads offer a tangible connection to the history of global trade and artisan heritage.

Explore more of TribalGH’s antique millefiori beads collection: Millefiori Mosaic Glass Beads Collection | Trade Beads Collection | Archived Millefiori Beads Collection