Rare Antique Brick-Color Bicone Venetian Lampwork Trade Beads - Raised Eyes

These beautiful and rare antique brick-colored bicone Venetian lampwork glass trade beads feature unique raised eyes decorations, making them highly collectible. Referenced in Picard, Volume IV, pages 15 and 17 (beads 634, 639, 640, 707), these handcrafted wound glass beads are an exquisite example of Venetian artistry. They were actively traded in Africa in the early 1900s and have since become valuable historical pieces.

• Size: 13-15 mm in length
• Diameter: 9-10 mm
• Condition: Very good (minor decoration loss, one bead chipped at the end; see photo 2)

The beads were crafted using the intricate Venetian lampworking technique, a process dating back centuries. Lampwork beads are made by winding molten glass around a metal rod, allowing for precise, beautiful designs like the raised eyes on these bicones. These beads traveled along trade routes from Venice to Africa, where they held significant cultural value, particularly in Ghana and West Africa, serving as currency, symbols of status, and adornment.

Explore more stunning Venetian lampwork trade beads in our collections:

• Current Venetian Lampwork Beads Collection
• Current Trade Beads Collection
• Sold Venetian Lampwork Beads Archive