Rare Antique Venetian Millefiori Mosaic Bead - African Trade Beads

Discover a rare and exquisite antique Venetian millefiori mosaic glass trade bead with a captivating murrine and trail decoration. This beautiful bead, featured in Picard Volume VI, p.62, bead 1814, is a timeless piece of history, crafted with exceptional skill and precision in Venice, Italy, and cherished in the African trade during the early 1900s.

Size:

• 16 x 9 mm

Condition:

• Very good condition
• Lightly beveled and lightly chipped at the ends (see photos)

This bead exemplifies the meticulous Venetian craftsmanship of millefiori, meaning "thousand flowers," which involved layering and fusing colorful glass canes to create intricate mosaic patterns. The addition of a trail decoration adds another level of artistry to this already stunning bead.

Venetian trade beads, like this one, were integral to the African trade, serving as both currency and symbols of wealth and status in regions such as Ghana and across West Africa. Their historical significance and unique beauty make them highly collectible and treasured worldwide.

Explore more of TribalGH's unique collections:

• Current Millefiori Beads Collection
• Antique Trade Beads Collection
• Sold Millefiori Beads Archive