This beautiful LARGE OLD millefiori Venetian mosaic glass trade bead is a rare and exquisite example of African trade beads from the early 1900s. Venetian artisans crafted these beads with intricate mosaic designs, adding vibrant colors and patterns that captivate collectors and jewelry makers alike.
Size: 31 x 13 mm
Condition: Very good, lightly beveled (see photos)
Millefiori beads, also known as mosaic beads, were painstakingly made in Venice, Italy, using a technique that involves fusing and cutting layers of colored glass. These beads were highly sought after during the African trade era, particularly in Ghana and across West Africa, where they were traded as a form of currency and treasured as symbols of wealth and status.
Discover more about these historic Venetian beads, their role in African trade, and explore our curated collection below:
