Rare Antique Banded "Kente" Fancy Venetian Lampwork Glass Trade Beads - 13mm

These three rare, old, matching Venetian trade beads feature a beautiful banded "Kente" fancy design with intricate trail decoration. Each bead showcases the masterful Venetian lampwork technique, combining vibrant colors and stunning craftsmanship. Originally crafted for the African trade between the late 1800s and early 1900s, these glass beads are a remarkable representation of the era.

• Length: 13 mm
• Diameter: 11 mm
• Condition: Excellent

These antique Venetian beads were expertly crafted using the lampwork technique, also known as wound glass beads. Venetian artisans skillfully shaped each bead by winding molten glass around a metal rod, allowing for the addition of fine details like the trailing decoration seen in these pieces. Highly sought after in West Africa, particularly in Ghana, such trade beads played a significant role in the cultural exchange and trade routes between Europe and Africa. These beads often held symbolic value in the vibrant Kente cloth traditions and other African cultural practices, making them precious historical artifacts.

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