Rare Antique Oval Venetian Millefiori Mosaic Glass Trade Beads 12-13mm

These exquisite and rare antique Venetian millefiori trade beads are a stunning find, featuring three matching oval beads meticulously crafted in Venice. Known as mosaic beads, each piece displays the intricate millefiori technique, where "a thousand flowers" of colored glass are skillfully layered to produce mesmerizing patterns. Sought after for their history and beauty, these beads were once a part of the African trade routes, making them unique artifacts of cultural and artistic heritage.

• Bead Size: 12-13 mm in length
• Diameter: 9 mm

• Condition: Very good, with light beveling and minor chips at the ends, enhancing their authentic vintage charm (see photos).

Venetian millefiori beads, also called mosaic beads, were made using a complex process of layering and fusing glass rods, each bearing colorful designs that would be sliced to reveal intricate floral patterns within. These glass trade beads, crafted in the early 1900s, played a significant role in African trade, especially in Ghana and across West Africa, where they were cherished as symbols of status, heritage, and artistry.

Explore more about these historical Venetian treasures and our collection of antique beads:

• Browse Millefiori Beads Collection
• Explore Old Trade Beads
• View Sold Millefiori Beads in Archives