Millefiori, Antique Venetian Trade Beads, Bear Paw Design, 30x11mm, Sold Individually
SKU: AFE-2240
Sale price
$19.00
Shipping calculated at checkout
Only 4 in stock
Description
- These beads are priced and sold individually
- Antique Venetian millefiori trade beads 30x11mm
- This is an unusual shape for these beads which normally only come in short thick cylinders, sometimes short barrels or large elbows.
- These are the early version with no core, just off white glass and the scattered "bear paw" design. To get an idea where the name came from look at the bottom of the bead in the lower left corner of the image and the right end of the bead just below the coin. Can you see the claws radiating out from the palm?
- The name was supposedly bestowed by early fur trappers who traded beads like these with Indians in the Rocky Mountains of the US and Canada. They were supplied with various beads by the Hudson Bay Company.
- On the other hand maybe the whole tale was started by modern day wanna be mountain men chatting around the campfire at re-enacting rendezvous, who knows?
- Made in Venice, Italy for the African trade, late 1700s to early 1800s when black cores started to be used.