Discover this beautiful and rare "Fancy" Venetian lampwork trade bead, featuring intricate murrine and trail decorations. This bead, crafted in Venice in the early 1900s, was widely traded across Africa and holds significant historical value. It has been skillfully wound using the ancient lampwork technique, making it a prized collectible.
Size: 14 x 8 mm
Condition: Excellent, considering its age and history in the African trade.
Venetian lampwork beads are renowned for their intricate craftsmanship, where glass rods are wound over a flame to create these beautiful and durable beads. Venice was a major production hub, and these beads were highly sought after in Africa, especially in Ghana, where they played an essential role in trade and cultural expression. Trade beads like this were often used for bartering goods, and they became symbols of wealth and status across African communities.
