Antique Venetian Lampwork Glass Trade Beads with Trail Decoration - 14mm

Discover this exquisite set of four beautiful matching "FANCY" antique Venetian wound glass trade beads, featuring intricate trail decoration. These beads, crafted in Venice, Italy, are excellent examples of the delicate artistry behind lampwork (wound glass) beads, highly prized in African trade during the late 1800s to early 1900s.

• Size: 14 mm x 7 mm
• Condition: Excellent, with a few tiny air bubbles (see photos for details)

These antique Venetian glass beads are part of a long tradition of trade between Europe and Africa, particularly Ghana and West Africa. Venetian artisans employed the ancient technique of lampworking to create these beads, carefully winding molten glass around a mandrel. The trail decoration added after winding gives each bead its unique charm and artistic flair. These beads were highly sought after in African markets and played a crucial role in trade exchanges.

Explore more about the fascinating history of African trade beads and the artistry behind Venetian lampwork beads through our collections below:

• Venetian Lampwork Trade Beads for Sale
• Old Trade Beads Collection
• Sold Venetian Lampwork Beads Archives