Two Venetian 500-Year Old, Seven-Layer Chevron Beads

Chevron beads, originally called rosetta beads, were first made in Venice in the late fifteenth century. Layers of red, blue and white glass were overlaid on each other and then the beads were ground back to reveal the rosetta pattern.  The beads were exported to across Europe and then to West Africa where they found much favour  among particular tribes.

The examples here have seven layers and date to the 15th-16th centuries, and so count among the earliest chevron beads to have been made in Venice. Their sides are gadrooned. The stringing holes have significant wear.

Chevron beads made since this period tend to have fewer layers.

The two beads here have ample signs of great age, and are excellent examples.