Antique Elbow Venetian Millefiori Mosaic Glass Trade Bead, 33x10mm

Presenting an extraordinary piece of history: a rare antique Venetian elbow millefiori mosaic glass trade bead. This exquisite bead, referenced in Picard's Volume VI (p.39, bead 706), showcases the exceptional craftsmanship of early 1900s Venetian glassmakers, made specifically for African trade. Its beautiful mosaic pattern, meticulously crafted through millefiori techniques, is a true collector's find.

• Size: 33 x 10 mm
• Condition: Very good, with only very light chipping at the ends (refer to photos)

The millefiori technique, meaning "thousand flowers" in Italian, was a masterful Venetian process that fused glass rods to create stunning floral or geometric patterns. These beads held significant value in African trade networks, particularly in Ghana, where they symbolized status, history, and artistic beauty. Each bead like this served not only as a piece of adornment but as a storied artifact connecting cultures and continents.

Explore more of TribalGH's unique collections:

• Our Millefiori Mosaic Glass Beads Collection
• Antique Trade Beads Collection
• Archived Millefiori Beads Collection