Description

Old Venetian lampwork trade beads collected in Mali.
The strand comprises nineteen glass beads displaying a dark opaque body decorated with multicoloured trails and aventurine ornamentation.

The beads vary in size and pattern, with white, pink, blue, and copper-toned aventurine decoration creating a lively and distinctive appearance. Produced in Venice for the African trade, they represent the rich tradition of glass bead making that supplied trade networks across West Africa during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The beads display wear and minor irregularities consistent with age, use, and handmade manufacture.

Dimensions

Height: 7–12 mm
Diameter: 10–17 mm
19 beads
Temporary stringing on nylon