bead

Venetian mosaic beads are most commonly associated with the African trade. While some of these beads may have been made for European markets, almost all of the mosaic and millefiori beads were probably produced as part of the extensive distribution of European beads in Africa, a trade that had grown exponentially in the 19th century. Mosaic beads were also some of the earliest beads to appear on reverse trade routes during the 1970s, when many Venetian beads began to be purchased from Africa and brought into the United States. This reverse trade led to a deepening of the association of Venetian mosaic beads with Africa. Venetian beadmakers were well aware of the increased demand for these beads, and they worked to develop more patterns and forms to fulfill the needs of the market. The reinvention of the ancient Roman mosaic technique had allowed the Venetians to create very complex drawn canes and many more patterns, but also to perfect the simpler cane designs and to apply those murrine to new shapes for the market. This bead represents the tabular form. It is hexagonal, but more circular shapes were also made in this flattened style (e.g., 70.3.130). The pattern of concentric rings on the murrine used for this bead is quite basic, but when it is well placed, it results in a distinct cellular design that covers the exterior of the bead and is quite different in appearance from the floral millefiori style.