Presenting a Rare Tabular Green "Fancy" Trail Decorated Venetian Wound Glass Trade Bead (Picard, Volume IV, p.24, bead 1076), a true collector's gem with historical significance. This antique bead was used in the African trade during the late 1800s to early 1900s, making it a valuable artifact of cultural and trade exchange between Venice and Africa.
Size: 18 x 16 x 6 mm
Condition: Very good (lightly chipped, see photos)
Venetian lampwork, or wound glass beads, were meticulously handcrafted in Venice, Italy, through a process that involved heating glass rods over a flame, then winding the softened glass around a metal mandrel to shape the bead. This labor-intensive technique resulted in unique, intricate beads that became prized trade items in Africa, particularly in Ghana, where they were often used as currency or for ceremonial purposes.
Explore the historical beauty of Venetian trade beads with this rare piece.
