During the late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb  More »

During the late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb vessels and jewelry which were valued throughout the known world. It was also during this period that Venice became the most powerful trading nation in Europe, a city whose ships visited every port both east and west. Venetian traders used glass beads for barter, and these jewels became especially prized in Africa, where they were traded for gold, ivory, rare woods and spices. Venetian beads quickly became a medium of exchange throughout Africa, and in some tribes were used as a bridal dowry. The rare and subtle beauty of these beads continues to dazzle the senses even after the passage of centuries. - (FJ.4589)Origin: Venice, Italy Circa: 19 th Century AD to 20 th Century AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Venetian Trade Beads Medium: Glass   « Less

Necklace composed of Venetian glass trade beads. During the late Middle Ages and throughout the renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass  More »

Necklace composed of Venetian glass trade beads. During the late Middle Ages and throughout the renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb vessels and jewelry which were valued throughout the known world. It was also during this period that Venice became the most powerful trading nation in Europe, a city whose ships visited every port both east and west. Venetian traders used glass beads for barter, and these jewels became especially prized in Africa, where they were traded for gold, ivory, rare woods and spices. Venetian beads quickly became a medium of exchange throughout Africa, and in some tribes were used as a bridal dowry. The rare and subtle beauty of these beads continues to dazzle the senses even after the passage of centuries. - (FJ.4651)Origin: Africa Circa: 1600 AD to 1800 AD Collection: Beaded Necklaces Style: Venetian Medium: Glass   « Less

One of the earliest and most renowned European glass bead-making centers was in Venice, which dominated the world market in volume, quality, and diversity of beads until the  More »

One of the earliest and most renowned European glass bead-making centers was in Venice, which dominated the world market in volume, quality, and diversity of beads until the 20th century. The beginnings of Venetian glass manufacture are not clear, but the discovery of glass making furnaces, vessel fragments, and mosaic cubes, dating from 600 ad. To 650 ad. On the island of Torcello in the Venetian lagoon implies glass production occurred in the vicinity from an early point in Venetian history. By the 18th century, Venice had a near monopoly on the glass bead market. Venice's loss of prevalence in the bead market in the following centuries was only due to the rise of local markets for rosary beads in particular, in places like Germany, the Baltic, Bohemia, and Mora via these stunning beads of two shades of blue, green, and orange colored design evidence the exceptional artistry of the Venetian bead makers. Beautiful as the moonlit sky shot through with golden stars, lapis lazuli has been treasured since the dawn of civilization. Its sources are few, mostly in eastern mines of what is now Afghanistan, and its rarity made it the favored jewel of ancient royalty. The kings and queens of Mesopotamia had their cylinder seals carved of lapis; the Egyptians made their most precious amulets from it. So eager were the Egyptians for objects made from lapis that they created an imitation paste from the ground stone. During the renaissance, the rich ultra-marine of the great master painters were also made from powdered lapis, brought overland on arduous journeys that took years. Poets from Ancient Sumer through the modern age have used it as a metaphor of beauty and rarity. Besides its appealing loveliness, the gem is thought to have curative powers and is used as a remedy for fever, gall-stones, sleeplessness, and above all, melancholy. Who, looking upon this splendid necklace, could feel anything but happiness? - (FJ.5856)Origin: Venice Circa: 1800 AD to 1900 AD Collection: Beaded Necklaces Style: Venetian Medium: Glass and Lapis   « Less

One of the earliest and most renowned European glass bead-making centers was in Venice, which dominated the world market in volume, quality, and diversity of beads until the  More »

One of the earliest and most renowned European glass bead-making centers was in Venice, which dominated the world market in volume, quality, and diversity of beads until the 20th century. The beginnings of Venetian glass manufacture are not clear, but the discovery of glass making furnaces, vessel fragments, and mosaic cubes, dating from 600 ad. To 650 ad. On the island of Torcello in the Venetian lagoon implies glass production occurred in the vicinity from an early point in Venetian history. By the 18th century, Venice had a near monopoly on the glass bead market. Venice's loss of prevalence in the bead market in the following centuries was only due to the rise of local markets for rosary beads in particular, in places like Germany, the Baltic, Bohemia, and Mora via these stunning beads of two shades of blue, green, and orange colored design evidence the exceptional artistry of the Venetian bead makers. Beautiful as the moonlit sky shot through with golden stars, lapis lazuli has been treasured since the dawn of civilization. Its sources are few, mostly in eastern mines of what is now Afghanistan, and its rarity made it the favored jewel of ancient royalty. The kings and queens of Mesopotamia had their cylinder seals carved of lapis; the Egyptians made their most precious amulets from it. So eager were the Egyptians for objects made from lapis that they created an imitation paste from the ground stone. During the renaissance, the rich ultra- marine of the great master painters were also made from powdered lapis, brought overland on arduous journeys that took years. Poets from Ancient Sumer through the modern age have used it as a metaphor of beauty and rarity. Besides its appealing loveliness, the gem is thought to have curative powers and is used as a remedy for fever, gall-stones, sleeplessness, and above all, melancholy. Who, looking upon this splendid necklace, could feel anything but happiness? - (FJ.5857)Origin: Venice Circa: 1800 AD to 1900 AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Venetian Medium: Glass and Lapis   « Less

Chevron beads, first invented by the Venetians in about 1500 A.D., have been an extremely popular form of adornment throughout the ages. As a specialized cane or drawn-glass  More »

Chevron beads, first invented by the Venetians in about 1500 A.D., have been an extremely popular form of adornment throughout the ages. As a specialized cane or drawn-glass bead, the chevron is formed by forcing or blowing a single or multiple-layered gather of glass into a tapered mold with corrugated sides, which produces points on the outer surface. This pleated gather is then encased with additional glass layers of various colors, which may again be molded to produce further outer layers with points. Finally, stripes may be applied to the surf ace. While the multi layered, hollow-gather is still viscid, it is drawn into a cane of at least six feet, cooled, and finally sectioned into beads. These sections are often reheated or ground to produce a more finished product in various new shapes. - (FJ.5858)Origin: Venice Circa: 1500 AD to 1700 AD Collection: Beaded Necklaces Style: Venetian Medium: Glass   « Less

Chevron beads, first invented by the Venetians in about 1500 A.D., have been an extremely popular form of adornment throughout the ages. As a specialized cane or drawn-glass  More »

Chevron beads, first invented by the Venetians in about 1500 A.D., have been an extremely popular form of adornment throughout the ages. As a specialized cane or drawn-glass bead, the chevron is formed by forcing or blowing a single or multiple-layered gather of glass into a tapered mold with corrugated sides, which produces points on the outer surface. This pleated gather is then encased with additional glass layers of various colors, which may again be molded to produce further outer layers with points. Finally, stripes may be applied to the surf ace. While the multi layered, hollow-gather is still viscid, it is drawn into a cane of at least six feet, cooled, and finally sectioned into beads. These sections are often reheated or ground to produce a more finished product in various new shapes. - (FJ.5859)Origin: Venice Circa: 1500 AD to 1700 AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Venetian Medium: Glass   « Less

Chevron beads, first invented by the Venetians in about 1500 A.D., have been an extremely popular form of adornment throughout the ages. As a specialized cane or drawn-glass  More »

Chevron beads, first invented by the Venetians in about 1500 A.D., have been an extremely popular form of adornment throughout the ages. As a specialized cane or drawn-glass bead, the chevron is formed by forcing or blowing a single or multiple-layered gather of glass into a tapered mold with corrugated sides, which produces points on the outer surface. This pleated gather is then encased with additional glass layers of various colors, which may again be molded to produce further outer layers with points. Finally, stripes may be applied to the surf ace. While the multi layered, hollow-gather is still viscid, it is drawn into a cane of at least six feet, cooled, and finally sectioned into beads. These sections are often reheated or ground to produce a more finished product in various new shapes. - (FJ.5863)Origin: Venice Circa: 1500 AD to 1700 AD Collection: Beaded Necklaces Style: Venetian Medium: Glass   « Less

Necklace consisting of genuine antique Venetian glass beads, dating from the year 13th-16th Century A.D. - (FB.0009)Origin: Venice, Italy Circa: 13 th Century AD to 16 th  More »

Necklace consisting of genuine antique Venetian glass beads, dating from the year 13th-16th Century A.D. - (FB.0009)Origin: Venice, Italy Circa: 13 th Century AD to 16 th Century AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Venetian Trade Beads Medium: Glass   « Less

During the late Middle Ages and throughout the renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb  More »

During the late Middle Ages and throughout the renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb vessels and jewelry which were valued throughout the known world. It was also during this period that Venice became the most powerful trading nation in Europe, a city whose ships visited every port both east and west. Venetian traders used glass beads for barter, and these jewels became especially prized in Africa, where they were traded for gold, ivory, rare woods and spices. Venetian beads quickly became a medium of exchange throughout Africa, and in some tribes were used as a bridal dowry. The rare and subtle beauty of these beads continues to dazzle the senses even after the passage of centuries. - (FJ.4384)Origin: Venice, Italy Circa: 17 th Century AD to 18 th Century AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Venetian Trade Beads Medium: Glass   « Less

For over a thousand years, successive generations of Venetian glass artisans have passed their ancient handcraft down from master to apprentice. Even today in Venice, the art  More »

For over a thousand years, successive generations of Venetian glass artisans have passed their ancient handcraft down from master to apprentice. Even today in Venice, the art of hand fusing molten glass into beautiful multi-colored beads continues in the traditional manner. The Venetians produced many colorful designs, which were traded with African tribes for important items such as gold, ivory, and even slaves. This was definitely a study in relative value, since Western culture considered gold, for instance, much more valuable than the glass beads that they could produce in mass quantities. However, to the tribes of sub-Saharan Africa, these colorful beads became important components in both their rituals and personal adornment. Natural resources were plentiful on the African continent, but methods to produce the beautiful glass beads they desired were not. Thus these beads, like shells, became a form of currency recognized throughout the continent. Beads were desired both for their aesthetic beauty, as well as their rarity. When one considers that these beads might have been traded for their weight in gold, their true value to the Africans becomes clear. These were luxury item, manufactured and transported from exotic, far away lands. Such necklaces could only be afforded by the very wealthy, which often limited their ownership to kings, tribal chiefs, and their courts. Holding this necklace in our hands, we feel a weight and presence that is surely befitting of a king. We can imagine an annual ceremony perform long ago under the African sun, drums banging, dancers moving to the rhythms, when through the parted crowd descends a king dressed in the most elaborate, luxurious garments: gold rings and sandals, robes featuring European and Middle Eastern clothes, and a necklace made of thick colored Venetian beads. - (PF.6139)Origin: Venice, Italy Circa: 16 th Century AD to 18 th Century AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Venetian Trade Beads Medium: Glass Beads   « Less