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Antique 19th Century Venetian-Style “Trailing Feather” Glass Trade Bead Strand – 32 Beads – Murano / African Trade
A beautiful antique glass trade bead strand featuring 32 individual glass beads, each showcasing a striking dark blue base with colorful white, red, and yellow feather-like trailing decoration.
These beads have the distinctive appearance associated with Venetian “Trailing Feather” or feather-decorated trade beads, historically produced in the Venetian glassmaking tradition and widely circulated through African trade networks. The beads are presented together on what appears to be traditional coarse, hand-twisted natural-fiber cord, adding to the authentic antique character of the strand.
DETAILS:
- Antique glass trade bead strand
- 32 individual beads
- Dark blue glass cores
- White, red, and yellow feather/trailing glass trade bead construction
- Traditionally associated with African trade bead collecting
- Strung on coarse, hand-twisted natural-fiber cord
- Visible frit, small bubbles, and internal inclusions throughout the glass
- Soft, dusty semi-matte/satin surface appearance rather than a modern high-gloss finish
- Original-looking antique stringing
- Offered in untouched, uncleaned estate condition
- No polishing, cleaning, or restoration has been performed
The individual beads display the wonderful variations and imperfections found in older hand-crafted glass, including bubbles, inclusions, variations in the trailing decoration, and irregularities in shape and surface. These characteristics are visible throughout the strand and are part of what makes antique trade beads so fascinating to collectors.
The surface has a beautiful soft, aged patina with a dusty semi-matte appearance rather than the bright glossy finish often seen on newer glass beads. The strand has been left completely untouched rather than cleaned or polished, allowing the beads to retain their present condition and character.
ESTATE DISCOVERY
This strand was acquired as part of a vintage estate collection of multicultural and global beads and is being offered in its present, untouched condition.
For the collector, researcher, jewelry artist, or enthusiast of historic trade beads, this is a wonderful opportunity to acquire an entire strand of 32 antique-looking Venetian-style feather-decorated glass beads, complete with its original-looking natural-fiber stringing and beautifully aged surface appearance.
Please examine all photographs carefully. The photographs are considered part of the description and show the beads, decoration, stringing, surface character, inclusions, and overall condition in detail.
A truly fascinating piece of bead history with wonderful color, texture, and age character.
