Striking Old Venetian 3 mm Translucent Blue Striped Seed Beads Strand

Discover a beautiful old strand of Venetian drawn trade beads

Perfect for collectors and jewelry makers alike, each tiny bead reveals its delicate striped translucent blue hue under light.

• Size: approx. 3 mm diameter
• Length: approx. 27″ (69 cm) of beads
• Condition: Excellent - very few beads have light chips, as visible in the photos

This strand replicates what you see in the photograph, your strand will be identical to the one pictured.

History & Value

These are genuine old Venetian seed glass trade beads, also known as Conteria beads or drawn beads. Originating in Venice in the early to mid‑1900s, these tiny drawn beads were prized in the African trade. Hand‑drawn from molten glass canes, they exhibit the distinctive translucent blue stripes and precise tiny form that collectors love.

Because they are authentic vintage Venetian Conteria drawn beads, their collectible value is high, both as historical artifacts and as materials for fine jewelry and beadwork.

Each bead is a testament to the traditional Venetian drawn‑glass process, where molten glass is pulled into slender cane and then sliced into these uniform seed-sized beads. This labor‑intensive method gives them their characteristic fine shape and quality.

Explore More

• Learn more about my seed bead offerings
• Explore my handmade jewelry
• Browse the archives of sold Venetian, Czech, and African trade beads