Discover a beautiful and rare old rectangular "Floral" Fancy Venetian wound glass trade bead, adorned with intricate trail decorations. This bead exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Venetian bead makers from the late 1800s to early 1900s, designed specifically for the African trade.
Size: 16 mm x 7 mm x 7 mm
Condition: Excellent
Venetian lampwork beads, also known as wound glass beads, were carefully handcrafted in Venice, Italy. The process involves winding molten glass around a mandrel, allowing for intricate designs like the floral and trail decorations seen on this bead. These beads played a significant role in the African trade, particularly in Ghana, where they were valued as symbols of wealth and status. African communities, especially in West Africa, used these beads for ceremonial purposes and as a form of currency, making them highly prized collectibles today.
