Antique Cornaline D'Aleppo White Heart Venetian Trade Beads #17761

This exceptional 38" strand of antique Cornaline d’Aleppo White Heart Venetian trade beads features an attractive mixture of large cylindrical and round beads in rich shades of translucent red and reddish-orange. The beads are in excellent condition for their age, while retaining the subtle surface wear and individual variation that give antique trade beads their distinctive character. The generous bead size and combination of shapes make this a particularly impressive collector’s strand. Individual beads measure approximately 16–25 x 12–14mm. Cornaline d’Aleppo beads, commonly known as White Hearts, are among the best-known historic Venetian trade beads. Traditionally made with a pale or white glass core covered by an outer layer of translucent red glass, they were produced in Venice and exported in large quantities during the height of the African bead trade. Their brilliant color made them especially desirable in many parts of Africa, where beads served as objects of adornment, exchange and status and were often preserved for generations. Today, old White Hearts are highly sought after by collectors, particularly in larger sizes and well-preserved examples such as those represented on this strand. You will receive the exact strand pictured.