Rare Awale Tiny Chevron Beads Strand – Antique 4mm, 22" Long

This is a beautiful old matching strand of rare-color "Awale" Chevron Venetian glass trade beads, featuring tiny 4mm diameter beads. Known for their petite size and subtle elegance, these beads are a remarkable example of fine Venetian craftsmanship and African trade history. The full strand measures approximately 22 inches (56 cm) of beads and is composed of dozens of precisely matched tiny Chevrons in a soft, rare-toned palette.

The term “Awale” refers to this specific miniature size of Chevron beads, which were particularly favored in various regions of West Africa during the late 1800s and early 1900s. They are delicate, yet striking, especially when seen together in a full matching strand.

• Size of beads: 4 mm in diameter
• Strand length: Approximately 22 inches (56 cm)

• Condition: Very Good – some beads show minor chipping (see photos)

Also known as Antique Chevron beads, Old Chevron beads, Rosetta beads, and Venetian Chevron glass beads, these were created in Venice using the drawn glass method. Layers of differently colored molten glass were fused and drawn into long canes, then sliced into beads and carefully ground to display the characteristic star or rosette pattern at each end.

This strand represents a significant piece of African trade bead history. These miniature Chevrons were traded across the continent, often used as adornment or as items of exchange, and continue to be highly sought after by collectors today for their charm, rarity, and historic importance.

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