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Venetian Beads

  • Venetian-Inspired Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $43.00
    $43.00 - $43.00
    $43.00
    $37.00
    $37.00 - $37.00
    $37.00

    Venetian-Inspired Millefiori Trade Beads

    Only 6 left!

    Admire these beautiful, handmade glass beads from the Indonesian island of Java. Inspired by tradition, these small treasures are made in the celeb...

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    $43.00
    $43.00 - $43.00
    $43.00
    $37.00
    $37.00 - $37.00
    $37.00
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  • Venetian-Style Painted Blue Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00

    Venetian-Style Painted Blue Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

    Out of stock

    Recycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful blue color recycled beads are made us...

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    $14.00
    $14.00 - $14.00
    $14.00
    $12.00
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    $12.00
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  • Blue & Yellow Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
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    $24.00

    Blue & Yellow Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads

    Out of stock

    Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
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    $24.00
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  • Blue & White Antique Venetian Skunk Trade Beads (45" Strand) - The Bead Chest
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    $599.00 - $599.00
    $599.00
    $599.00
    $599.00 - $599.00
    $599.00

    Blue & White Antique Venetian Skunk Trade Beads (45" Strand)

    Out of stock

    Commonly referred to as "skunk beads", these beautiful African trade beads are of Venetian origin. Beads such as these are said to have been made i...

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    $599.00 - $599.00
    $599.00
    $599.00
    $599.00 - $599.00
    $599.00
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  • Yellow Venetian Glass Watermelon Oval Beads - The Bead Chest
    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
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    $24.00

    Yellow Venetian Glass Watermelon Oval Beads

    in stock

    Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads. Similar to the commonly known "watermelon chevrons", these beads are a rare, solid yellow color, alm...

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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
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    $24.00
  • Antique Venetian Medicine Man Trade Beads (Double Strand) - The Bead Chest
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    $249.00
    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
    $199.00
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    $199.00

    Antique Venetian Medicine Man Trade Beads (Double Strand)

    in stock

    Take a look at these unusual Medicine Man beads found in Ethiopia, East Africa. Old trade beads such as these are originally of Venetian provenance...

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    $249.00
    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
    $199.00
    $199.00 - $199.00
    $199.00
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  • Turquoise & Red Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
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    $24.00

    Turquoise & Red Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads

    Out of stock

    Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
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    $24.00
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  • Antique Venetian Flower White Heart Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $325.00 - $325.00
    $325.00
    $325.00
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    $325.00

    Antique Venetian Flower White Heart Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire this rare strand of old Venetian Flower Trade Beads from Ethiopia. These beads might be called cousins to the more common white heart beads ...

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    $325.00 - $325.00
    $325.00
    $325.00
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    $325.00
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  • Old Yellow Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $135.00
    $135.00 - $135.00
    $135.00
    $120.00
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    $120.00

    Old Yellow Venetian Trade Beads

    Only 1 left!

    Shaped like a yellow watermelon, these authentic Venetian Trade Beads are found primarily in Ethiopia in East Africa. While the exact age of these ...

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    $135.00
    $135.00 - $135.00
    $135.00
    $120.00
    $120.00 - $120.00
    $120.00
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  • Yellow Venetian Oval Striped Trade Beads (Extra Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00
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    $179.00

    Yellow Venetian Oval Striped Trade Beads (Extra Long Strand)

    Out of stock

    Admire this beautiful strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th century pri...

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    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00
    $179.00 - $179.00
    $179.00
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  • Yellow Oval Striped Venetian Trade Beads (One of a Kind) - The Bead Chest
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    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00
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    $159.00

    Yellow Oval Striped Venetian Trade Beads (One of a Kind)

    Out of stock

    Admire this beautiful strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th century pri...

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    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
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  • Yellow & Green Cylindrical Striped Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00
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    $159.00

    Yellow & Green Cylindrical Striped Venetian Trade Beads

    Out of stock

    Admire this beautiful, EXTRA LONG strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th...

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    $159.00 - $159.00
    $159.00
    $159.00
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    $159.00
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  • Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $280.00 - $280.00
    $280.00
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    $280.00 - $280.00
    $280.00

    Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads

    Out of stock

    WOW! Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefior...

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    $280.00 - $280.00
    $280.00
    $280.00
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    $280.00
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  • Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $255.00 - $255.00
    $255.00
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    $255.00

    Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads

    Out of stock

    WOW! Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefior...

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    $255.00 - $255.00
    $255.00
    $255.00
    $255.00 - $255.00
    $255.00
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  • Yellow & Blue Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads (16x7mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $23.00
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    $23.00
    $19.00
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    $19.00

    Yellow & Blue Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads (16x7mm)

    Out of stock

    Take a second to marvel at these unique Yellow and Blue Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads. Artisan Venetian Glass beads have been crafted and produ...

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    $23.00
    $23.00 - $23.00
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    $19.00
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  • Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $245.00 - $245.00
    $245.00
    $245.00
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    $245.00

    Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads

    Out of stock

    WOW! Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefior...

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    $245.00 - $245.00
    $245.00
    $245.00
    $245.00 - $245.00
    $245.00
    Sold out
  • Old Antique Venetian Yellow Oval Striped Trade Beads (Green Stripe) - The Bead Chest
    $135.00 - $135.00
    $135.00
    $135.00
    $135.00 - $135.00
    $135.00

    Old Antique Venetian Yellow Oval Striped Trade Beads (Green Stripe)

    Only 4 left!

    Admire this beautiful strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th century pri...

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    $135.00 - $135.00
    $135.00
    $135.00
    $135.00 - $135.00
    $135.00
  • Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
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    $24.00

    Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads

    Out of stock

    Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    Sold out
  • Yellow & Green Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $24.50 - $24.50
    $24.50
    $24.50
    $24.50 - $24.50
    $24.50

    Yellow & Green Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads

    Out of stock

    Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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    $24.50 - $24.50
    $24.50
    $24.50
    $24.50 - $24.50
    $24.50
    Sold out
  • Antique Venetian Brick Red Trade Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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    $365.00 - $365.00
    $365.00
    $365.00
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    $365.00

    Antique Venetian Brick Red Trade Beads (Long Strand)

    Out of stock

    These unusual glass Trade Beads were found in West Africa. While the exact age of this piece is not known, beads such as these were made between th...

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    $365.00 - $365.00
    $365.00
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  • Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
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    $24.00

    Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads

    Out of stock

    Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00
    $24.00 - $24.00
    $24.00
    Sold out
  • Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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    $235.00 - $235.00
    $235.00
    $235.00
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    $235.00

    Oval Antique Venetian African Millefiori Trade Beads

    Out of stock

    WOW! Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefior...

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    $235.00 - $235.00
    $235.00
    $235.00
    $235.00 - $235.00
    $235.00
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  • Striped Venetian Aja Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00
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    $249.00

    Striped Venetian Aja Beads (10mm)

    Out of stock

    These authentic Aja beads are made from Venetian Glass. Aja beads such as these are identified by their distinctive disk-like shape. To this day, V...

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    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00
    $249.00 - $249.00
    $249.00
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  • Blue Flower Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
    $245.00 - $245.00
    $245.00
    $245.00
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    $245.00

    Blue Flower Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

    Only 2 left!

    Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...

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    $245.00 - $245.00
    $245.00
    $245.00
    $245.00 - $245.00
    $245.00

Many trade beads, most commonly African trade beads, are venetian-made. We carry a wide variety of Venetian made Millefiori trade beads, eye beads, and mixed trade beads. The birthplace of these Venetian trade beads is most commonly Murano or Venice, Italy. Because of their high quality, age, and limited production, these Venetian beads are developing high value as collectible items.

Venetian beads are some of the most rare and prized beads in the world. Sources show that they have been used as trade beads as far back as the 14th century. Created in Venice, Italy, they are renowned for their extremely high level of craftsmanship, beautiful colors and intricate detail. However, in the 1620's, the Italian glass industry was moved to Murano, so there is difficulty in determining exactly from where each individual set of beads originates. Either way, it doesn't affect their value as they are still much sought after by collectors.

In order to create Venetian trade beads, glass artisans form the core of the bead by wrapping heated glass around a slim metal rod. When it cools, the glass contracts slightly and allows it to slide off the rod. To achieve a flower design, the artist must create a series of rods wrapped around in tight succession. When it cools, the result is a string of beads with many colors and sharp designs. By connecting the various colored glass together like this, this technique was known as 'fused glass'.

Newer strands can cost as little as $30 if you purchase replicas, but old and authentic Venetian glass beads cost anywhere from $70 - $200 per strand. On the other hand, if you are looking for more exotic venetian trade beads, you will need to venture in four figure sums. Because they are so rare and desired, antique and exotic trade beads can sell for up to $3,000 depending on where you purchase them. Unfortunately, today, there are many online stores selling Chinese-made replicas at the same prices as the authentic beads.

There is a lot of history and aesthetic value to these beads. They are a work of art rather than a mere fashion accessory. With every bead you wear, you carry a piece of history with you.