Rare Antique Large Banded Millefiori Venetian Mosaic Glass Beads 16mm

Discover the elegance and history encapsulated in these three beautiful, matching, antique Venetian millefiori beads. Featuring a rare banded pattern, these large-sized mosaic glass beads are a testament to the skilled glassmaking techniques that thrived in Venice, Italy, during the early 1900s. Used as trade beads across Africa, these millefiori beads carry a vibrant heritage that continues to inspire collectors today.

Specifications:

• Size: 16 mm x 13 mm
• Condition: Very good (lightly beveled, see photos)

Each bead in this trio showcases the iconic millefiori (“thousand flowers”) technique, where intricate, colorful patterns are meticulously fused together in glass to create a stunning mosaic effect. Venetian artisans honed this technique, making these beads not just decorative pieces but highly valued items in African trade, especially in West Africa and Ghana. These beads were historically exchanged for goods, deeply woven into the social and economic fabric of African communities, symbolizing wealth and cultural exchange.

Explore more rare millefiori treasures:

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