Necklace, Venetian polka dot trade bead

This necklace uses 17th century Venetian Chevron glass beads. These beads were used to trade gold, minerals, ivory and even slaves with tribal chiefs of West Africa from the 16th – 18th centuries when glass was unknown in Africa. They were highly prized by chiefs who used them as adornment to demonstrate their power and wealth. The beads effectively became currency and were the basis of Venice's great power and wealth from the 16th century. The Chevron is made up of between 5 – 7 layers of coloured glass which were ground down by hand to reveal their dynamic pattern. Their elegance and technical refinement makes these among the most treasured of antique trading beads. Chevrons were a favourite of African chiefs who wore them with lion's teeth and other amulets. They are still the aristocrat of antique glass beads and sought after as investment and heirlooms by bead collectors.
Length: 44 cm / 17 inches, lowest point approx 65 cm / 25 inches