27/07/2021
Happy Tuesday all🗣
Join me on my jewellery making journey
Venetian Beads
Glass making was established on the island of Torcello, Italy in the 6th and 7th centuries but glass beads were not made until 1268 A.D. So popular did this become that bead-makers guilds were formed and employees sworn to secrecy as to methods and formulas used. A death penalty was imposed on those found guilty of betrayal…
In the 14th century Venice became the major world producer. At its height it produced over 5,000 varieties of glass beads, including millifiori (thousand flowers), chevron beads, eye beads, feather beads, lamp work and many others….
During the age of exploration Venetian beads monopolized the world bead market. It is believed that these beads reached West Africa by ship in 1680 A.D. They were exchanged for gold, ivory, cocoa, palm oil and slaves. Thus, to this day, they are referred to as trade beads…
I do not have to tell you that Venetian trade beads really attracted my attention, and I was lucky to have had the money to purchase a large variety of them from a famous market in Khartoum, South Sudan, where a large number of these beads ended up (not cheap!) I learned that people in each area of Africa had preferences for particular beads and colors - status symbols, part of a woman’s dowry, symbols of witchdoctors’ powers and talisman. The demand for beads in Africa was limitless…
I loved making these necklaces using my collection of a variety of vintage millifiori. I loved mixing them with Swarovski Chrystal, Lapis Lazuli, Black Onyx, Amber and Balinese Sterling Silver.
