Antique African Trade Bead Necklace With Chevron & Millefiori Glass Beads

Length: 26 inches 📜 Historical Background This necklace is made of African trade beads, often called "Venetian Millefiori" and "Chevron beads". These beads were crafted mainly in Venice and Bohemia (Czech lands) from the 16th to 19th centuries. They were shipped in vast quantities to Africa as part of the trans-Saharan and trans-Atlantic trade. Used as a form of currency, wealth storage, and adornment, trade beads became deeply integrated into African societies. 🧵 Bead Types and Craftsmanship Millefiori Beads (blue with floral patterns): Created by layering colored glass canes and slicing them to reveal beautiful mosaic "flowers" or geometric designs. Chevron Beads (striped, multicolored): Made through a multi-layering glass-blowing technique, then ground to expose star-like stripes. Highly prized for their bold colors. Color Symbolism: Blue symbolized the heavens and water 🌊, red symbolized vitality and power 🔥, while green often represented growth and prosperity 🌱. 💰 Role in Trade These beads were traded for gold, ivory, palm oil, and even enslaved people, making them a controversial but significant artifact of global commerce. Certain beads, like large chevrons, held greater value and were often reserved for chiefs and important transactions. 🎭 Cultural Significance Beyond trade, African communities adopted these beads into rituals, ceremonies, and status symbols.