Presenting a rare, antique Venetian round multimurrine millefiori trade bead, intricately decorated with a captivating Murano bird/rooster design along with other colorful murrine details. This beautiful bead was crafted in Venice and dates back to the early 1900s, making it a true collector's piece. Such beads were highly sought after in the African trade.
Size: 11 x 10 mm
Condition: Excellent, especially considering its age
Millefiori, meaning “a thousand flowers,” is an ancient glass-making technique perfected in Venice. These beads were painstakingly handcrafted by layering and fusing together glass rods, which were then sliced to reveal intricate floral patterns. The artistry and durability of Venetian glass beads made them highly valuable in African trade, particularly in Ghana, where they were exchanged for goods and even used as currency. This particular bead, adorned with a bird motif, reflects the masterful skill of Murano artisans and the historical significance of trade beads in African culture.
