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Antique Red Banded Millefiori African Trade Beads, Venice, 1900s
Antique Red Banded Millefiori African Trade Beads, Venice, 1900s
Antique Red Banded Millefiori Venetian Mosaic Glass Trade Beads
Discover the beauty of these antique Venetian millefiori trade beads, featuring vibrant red banded patterns and intricate mosaic details. Each bead is an authentic piece from the early 1900s, crafted in Venice and widely circulated in the African trade, prized for their artistic appeal and cultural significance. These Venetian treasures have a unique, timeless elegance that adds historic charm to any collection.
- Bead Length: 9 mm
- Bead Diameter: 11 mm
- Condition: Very good; lightly beveled and very lightly chipped at the ends (please see photos).
The remarkable technique used to create these mosaic millefiori beads originates from Venice, Italy. Millefiori, meaning "thousand flowers" in Italian, describes the intricate layering and cutting of glass canes, forming a beautiful flowered effect in each bead. These beads played a significant role in the African trade, particularly in Ghana, where they were valued both as currency and for personal adornment. Today, they continue to be a beloved symbol of cross-cultural exchange and artistry.
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