Presenting a remarkable strand of tiny blue Old Venetian seed glass trade beads, crafted in Venice and used in early‑to‑mid 1900s African trade.
Size of beads: 2 - 3 mm diameter
Condition: Excellent condition Strand length approx. 26 ¾″ (68 cm) of beads Identical to the beads shown in the photograph
History & Value
These rare Conteria drawn beads (also known as Old Venetian seed beads or tiny drawn beads) date to the early‑mid 1900s and were part of the African trade system. Their vivid blue hue and uniformly tiny size make them highly collectible among bead and trade‑bead enthusiasts.
In Venice, these beads were hand‑drawn from molten glass through a cane, then cut into precise little cylinders each bead individually made in the centuries‑old Venetian technique. The result: a strand of consistently sized, lustrous seed beads prized for jewelry and historic trade collections.
