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Venetian glass beads including Millefiori, Chevron, King, Fancy Whiteheart, Greenheart and 'Watermelon' . Chevrons were very important in the African trade in spices, gold and later slaves.

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The history of beadmaking in Venice is thought to date back to the 13th century. In 1291 the glass bead making industry was moved to the island of Murano in Venice because of the fire risk posed by the process.At this time Venice was a busy center for trade in Pearl, Ivory, Rock Crystal, Bone and Wood beads.Beadmakers discover how to create glass beads using various methods, including drawing glass into long rods that could be cut into beads.These beads are known as Chevron Beads and were popular Trade beads in Africa and America.Beads were also made by heating rods of glass and winding them around a glass wire but the best known Venetian bead is probably the Millefiori or Mosaic Bead created from thin slices of
multi-layered glass canes.These beads were traded in vast quantities from Europe to West Africa, Ghana in particular .It was the popularity of these Venetian beads that virtually killed off the trans-Sahara trade in stone beads.

Older Venetian Beads tend to appear less shiny than versions made during the 20th century for European markets.They also show signs or wear and tear !