Presenting a beautiful and rare OLD TABULAR "FANCY" trail decorated Venetian wound glass trade bead. This exquisite bead, listed in Picard, Volume V, p.39, bead 1272, was masterfully crafted in Venice and used in the African trade in the early 1900s. It boasts a unique design, highlighting the Venetian mastery of bead-making.
Size: 20 X 18 X 7 mm
Condition: Excellent (lightly beveled, see photos)
Venetian lampwork beads, also known as wound glass beads, are crafted through a meticulous process where molten glass is wound around a metal rod, shaping intricate designs. These beads were highly prized in West Africa, especially in Ghana, where they played an essential role in trade. Beads like these were more than decorative objects—they served as currency and symbols of status and power.
Explore more from TribalGH's exquisite collection of Venetian Lampwork beads, old trade beads, and archived treasures:
