Antique Large Elbow Venetian Millefiori Mosaic Glass Trade Bead 57x14mm

Experience a piece of history with this large, antique Venetian millefiori elbow trade bead, crafted with expert artistry in Venice and notable for its rich cultural legacy in Africa. This vintage mosaic glass bead, cataloged in Picard’s Volume VI (p. 38, bead 685), exemplifies the refined millefiori technique used by Venetian artisans in the early 1900s. Millefiori, meaning "a thousand flowers," showcases vivid, intricate patterns, prized for their beauty and unique craftsmanship.

Bead Details:

• Size: 57mm in length x 14mm in diameter
• Condition: Excellent

Originally created for African trade, Venetian mosaic beads like this one became treasured currency and symbols of prestige across Ghana and West Africa. Venetian artisans used a specialized millefiori technique, layering and stretching colored glass rods into floral and geometric designs, resulting in intricate, jewel-like beads. This bead is a lasting testament to the trade routes that connected cultures and helped create the African trade bead tradition.

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