9 Rare Lime Millefiori Trade Beads

Millefiori, an Italian term meaning "a thousand flowers," refers to beads also known as "mosaic" beads globally. Crafting millefiori beads involves a two-step process: first, murrine or canes are created, and then they are applied to a molten wound glass core to form beads. Venice became a significant producer of millefiori beads, which were extensively imported to Africa from the late 1800s onwards, and exchanged for various goods. Although surviving bead sample cards are typically dated to the 1920s, the beads themselves are dated to the mid-1800s through the early 1900s, as indicated in the bead timeline in the History of Beads (Dubin). Old millefiori beads are highly valued for their historical and artistic significance.

"Trade Beads" refer to beads primarily produced in Venice, Bohemia, and other European countries from the late 1400s to the early 1900s, traded in Africa and the Americas. The peak of this trade occurred from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, with the Venetians dominating production. J.F. Sick and Co. and Moses Lewin Levin played significant roles as bead brokers/importers. The beads gained renewed popularity in the late 1960s when exported from Africa to the U.S. and Europe. The term "Trade Beads" became widely used, and they were also known as "Love Beads" during the Hippie era. As demand grew, specific names like "Russian Blues" and "Dutch Donuts" emerged, contributing to the beads' collectability. Today, these beads are highly sought after, with some styles becoming rarer as African traders venture deeper into the continent to find them.

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