Millefiori Glass Beads Strand

Product Description: This item features Millefiori elbow beads. Originating from Venice, these beads are a distinct representation of the famous Millefiori glasswork, which translates to "a thousand flowers" in Italian.

Specifications:

• Origin: Venice
• Size:
  • Number of Beads: 18
  • Length: 101cm
  • Main Bead Size: 49mm x 14mm

Special Notes:

As this is an antique item, it may exhibit signs of wear, such as scratches, cracks, or chips.

About Millefiori:

Era: Late 1800s to early 1900s

Origin: Venice

Technique: Mosaic application or mosaic inclusion method

In Africa, these beads are known as Chachaso. Millefiori, meaning "a thousand flowers" in Italian, emerged as Venice's response to the collapse of its exclusive trade with the East and the market dominance of Bohemian glass in Europe. To counter this economic challenge, Venetian artisans created vibrant decorative glass, with Millefiori glass being a prime example. The traders, already engaged in bead trade with Africa, crafted cylindrical glass beads from this material and introduced them as trade beads in Africa.