Discover a beautiful and very rare large "EYE" bead, also known as murrine with trail decoration. This authentic Venetian wound glass bead was crafted in Venice, Italy, in the early 1900s and played an integral role in the African trade, particularly in Ghana and other regions of West Africa. Its vibrant design, featuring an "EYE" pattern, makes it a stunning collector's piece for enthusiasts of antique trade beads.
Size: 24 x 16 mm
Condition: Very good, with minimal wear consistent with its age
Venetian lampwork beads like this one are handcrafted through an intricate process known as the wound glass technique. In this process, molten glass is wound around a mandrel and then decorated using fine glass trails, creating unique patterns such as the "EYE" design seen here. These beads were highly valued and used extensively in the African trade, where they symbolized wealth and status, particularly in Ghana. Today, they remain a cherished part of African and global bead history.
