Multi Antique Trade Bead Bracelet

This one of a kind bracelet is made almost entirely of antique trade beads starting with the large Millefiori focal bead in colors of green, blue, red and yellow. It was made in Venice, Italy between the 1700’s - 1800’s. Millefiori means a thousand flowers in Italian. These beads were made by adding mosaic slices or chips onto a wound glass core, thus making the design of the beads unlimited! The other antique trade beads include: A green Hebron bead which is a rustically finished glass trade bead manufactured in Hebron, Palestine, from the 1700’s. They hold a fascinating history tied to ancient Middle Eastern glassmaking. Crafted as wound glass in furnaces using native sand and Dead Sea salts, this gives them their characteristic coarse, earthy texture. Brick red green hearts, also made in Venice, Italy. The green heart gets its name from its core of dark or medium green glass. Layered over the green glass is a matte coating in brick red. The tube shape features rather large holes; its texture sometimes shows a bit of crackling. These were heavily traded in Africa. Transparent glass Dutch Dogon ring beads made in Holland. These are wound trade beads known as Dutch Dogons from the African Trade. Some of the earliest hand wound beads traded in Africa were originally produced in Holland. Beads such as these were often used by the Dogon people for dowries and were passed down by generations of Dogon women for over 200 years. Russian Blue faceted glass bead produced in Bohemia in the 1800’s. The first faceted beads were hand faceted on a grinding wheel and later made using molds. These were traded in Russia America in the Pacific Northwest, thus their name. Green King bead known for its bicone shape, also made in Venice, Italy between 1700 - 1800’s. Bicone beads were highly prized in West Africa. They were more expensive and usually reserved for Chiefs and more affluent people. Thus the name King bead. Lapis discs and green turquoise discs are tucked in between trade beads. The focal is flanked by African brass ring beads made by the Fulani people in Nigeria and Karen Hill fine silver bicones. Two silver metal beads made by the Berbers in Northern Africa blend nicely with the trade beads. The closure is a super cool artisan button made with naturally shed deer antler inlaid with green turquoise, set in sterling and fine silver. This fits through a loop of brown leather lace which is connected to a fine silver link. Knotted onto the leather ends are cobalt blue African recycled glass beads. Hanging from the link is an artisan pewter spiral charm, a lapis lazuli oval dangle and a vintage African brass bell. This fits a 6.5” to 7” wrist. This bracelet is adjustable by sliding a brass bead up and down the leather lace. Please see my Information page on directions for measuring your wrist.