This rare red elbow-shaped Venetian millefiori bead is an exceptional piece of history, crafted with intricate murrine and trail decoration, as cataloged in Picard's "Volume VI, p.37, bead 659." A collector's dream, this antique glass bead features the vivid red mosaic designs typical of the early 1900s African trade.
Bead Size:
Length: 49 mm
Diameter: 13 mm
Condition:
Excellent condition, with well-preserved details and a lustrous finish
Each millefiori bead is a remarkable work of Venetian artistry, produced by layering rods of molten colored glass to form intricate mosaic patterns-a highly skilled technique perfected by Venetian artisans in the late 1800s. These beads were then traded across Africa, especially in regions like Ghana, where they became prized symbols of wealth and cultural exchange. This bead exemplifies the rich history and craftsmanship associated with Venetian glass trade beads.
Discover more about these iconic beads in our collections:
