History of Venetian Glass Beads
Venetian glass beads set the standards by which all glass beads are still judged. Known for their superior quality and beauty, the ornate designs of the ancient beads are unmatched even by modern methods and craftsmen.
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History
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By 1000 B.C. glass beads were being made near Venice, Italy. Nearby Murano Island artists learned the craft in 1221. Prized for their quality and beauty, the demand for Venetian beads increased in the 1500s.
Significance
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Marco Polo traded glass beads as currency in Asia in the 12th century. Columbus introduced and traded glass beads with American Indians in the 1500s. Venice maintained its status as the world leader of the bead industry for almost 600 years.
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Function
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Venetian glass beads grew in popularity as jewelry for wealthy patrons and as rosary beads throughout Europe. In Victorian times, very large beads were used as paperweights and even custom-made doorknobs and drawer pulls. Venetian craftsmen filled orders for British royalty.
Methods
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Venetian glass beads are created through several methods. Lampwork or Wound beads are made by winding hot glass around a mandrel, then decorating the beads before they cool. Molten glass is stretched around a central support rod and cut out when cool to produce Core Formed beads. The Blown method features a craftsman blowing through a hollow tube with a ball of hot, pliable glass on the opposite end.
Types
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Among dozens of bead types, mosaic, cane and seed are among the more popular. The most expensive Venetian beads are the Chevron or Rosetta. Multiple layers of colored glass produce a star pattern on the end of the bead that results in stripes on the outside.
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References
- Photo Credit mancala beads image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
