Tiny Awale Chevron Bead Strand – Antique Venetian Trade Glass 2.5mm

Rare Tiny "Awale" Chevron Bead Strand – Antique Venetian Trade Glass

This is a beautiful and rare old matching strand of tiny "Awale" Venetian Chevron glass trade beads, featuring a unique and hard-to-find color combination. These Antique Chevron beads are drawn glass, created in Venice and used in the African trade during the late 1800s to early 1900s. Their small size and fine detail make them especially desirable for collectors and jewelry designers working with authentic historical materials.

• Length of Strand: 26" (66 cm)
• Bead Diameter: Approximately 2.5 mm

• Condition: Good (some beads are chipped; see photos)

This strand features the distinctive style of the "Awale" Chevron beads, named after their similarity in size to seeds used in the traditional African Awale game. Their delicate scale, rich color, and layered craftsmanship reflect the excellence of Murano glassmaking. Ideal for use in fine beadwork, cultural displays, or as part of a curated antique collection.

History, Value, and Craftsmanship of Chevron Beads

Venetian Chevron beads have been produced since the late 15th century by master glassmakers in Murano. Created through a meticulous process known as caneworking, these beads feature multiple layers of colored glass drawn into rods, then sliced and ground to reveal starburst or stripe patterns. The tiny size of "Awale" beads required even greater precision and are now among the rarest forms.

These beads were traded throughout West Africa, where they held value as currency and status symbols. Today, their historical and artistic significance makes them treasured collectibles, especially in rare forms like this tiny-size Awale strand.

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