Antique Venetian Millefiori Mosaic Glass Trade Beads - 14-15mm Rare African Trade Beads

These beautiful and rare antique Venetian Millefiori mosaic glass trade beads are a stunning representation of early 1900's African trade history. Each bead features intricate floral patterns, commonly referred to as 'millefiori,' meaning "a thousand flowers" in Italian.

• Bead length: 14-15 mm
• Bead diameter: 8-9 mm

• Condition: Very good with light beveling and very minor chipping at the ends (please refer to photos for details).

These Venetian Millefiori beads were made in Venice, Italy, using a labor-intensive glassmaking technique. The process involves layering colored glass rods, slicing them to reveal intricate patterns, and forming the beads. Venetian artisans crafted these beads for the African trade, where they became an important currency in places like Ghana and West Africa, symbolizing wealth and status. The trade of these beads played a significant role in the cultural exchanges between Europe and Africa.

For more information, explore our collections of millefiori beads currently available for sale, our collection of old trade beads, or visit our archives of sold millefiori beads.