Presenting a beautiful and rare antique "Rattle Snake" trail-decorated Venetian lampwork trade bead. This stunning bead, crafted in Venice in the early 1900s, is an exquisite example of the meticulous artistry that made Venetian wound glass beads highly prized in the African trade.
Size: 33mm length x 7mm width
Condition: Excellent condition, as shown in photos
These antique Venetian beads, also known as lampwork beads or wound glass beads, were skillfully handmade by winding molten glass around a metal rod. Each bead is unique, with vibrant color patterns and intricate trails like the one adorning this "Rattle Snake" bead. Their use in African trade, particularly in Ghana and across West Africa, made them both cultural and economic symbols, valued as currency, adornments, and prestigious trade items.
