Swap Beads – Milleflori Glass Beads – Murano Venice

Set of four Murano glass barter beads, in the Italian city of Venice, called "milleflori", dating from the 19th century.

This type of glass beads was produced in sufficient quantity from the 16th century to be exported to colonial Africa, serving as a currency for explorers and traders. Indeed, glass is seen in African lands as a prestigious material with sometimes unknown colors, which was willingly offered - with ulterior motives - to "welcoming" peoples. They are evidence of remarkable craftsmanship, made for over 4000 years (the oldest come from the Middle East, Mesopotamia). Italy became a great craftsman of glass beads, after rediscovering ancient techniques. This precious craft will be exported to European countries (France, Bohemia, Saxony, etc.) creating competition with the Italian master glassmakers of Murano.

Length: approx. 15 mm each
(Presented in a 3 x 6 cm cardboard box).
Real little objects full of history, they are the vestige of a precious Italian art that can be reassembled into jewelry, or as good objects of curiosity and travel.
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Bibliography: Perles de troc - African trade beads (2018) - Coll. Marcia de Castro and G. Maurette, 74 p.