Trade beads amber necklace, red white hearts, Thai silver, Venetian millefiori, gift for her, statement, unique, antique beads, gift for mum

Unique trade beads necklace. I bought the semi fossilised amber /copal beads in Côte d’Ivoire along with the six old Venetian millefiori glass beads that date from the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. The glass beads are of the millefiori design in blue reddy brown and white. These colour have been highlighted using Thai silver, blue rondells and blue glass. The small red beads are incredibly old too and are called white hearts or Cornaline d’Aleppo (ventimilla). They are two layer compound beads with a white centre and red trailed glass over the top giving a beautiful depth of colour. The red colour is comes from gold oxide in the glass and is why the beads were made with the white centre as it was not so expensive. All the glass beads have a patina suggesting their age and the odd chips and pits are to be expected. Made in Venice and then traded to West Africa over 100 years ago I only know their recent past - they deserve a new and loving home to take them onwards.

The clasp is a hammered Thai sterling silver toggle clasp.

It measures 18 inches long or 46cm.
It will come gift wrapped in a box and carefully packaged.


“Traded through desserts
Temporary guardians
Of beautiful treasure.”

For more jewellery, trade beads and gemstones, please visit my shop here:
www.beadsoftheworld.com