Antique Banded Oval Millefiori Venetian Mosaic Beads - African Trade Beads

Add an exquisite piece of history to your collection with these three antique Venetian banded oval millefiori mosaic glass trade beads. Crafted in the early 1900s, these rare African trade beads showcase stunning Venetian craftsmanship with unique and intricate mosaic patterns that remain striking after more than a century.

Each bead offers vibrant banded designs, and despite their age, they are in very good condition with minimal chipping at the ends (see photos for details).

Size:

• Length: 14 mm
• Width: 11 mm

Condition:

• Very good condition with light chipping at ends

These exceptional beads reflect the unique Venetian millefiori ("thousand flowers") glassmaking technique. Artisans in Venice expertly layered colorful glass canes to form captivating floral and geometric patterns within each bead. Originally made for African trade, these beads became highly prized in Ghana and across West Africa, symbolizing wealth and status in various cultures.

Explore more of these rare treasures in our exclusive collections below:

• Current Millefiori Beads Collection
• Old Trade Beads Collection
• Archived Millefiori Beads Collection