Customer Reviews

Millefiori Beads from the West African Trade (Beads from the West African Trade, Vol VI)

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This book offers a comprehrensive insight in the colourful world of the many types beads used in the trade with West Africa. With about 3000 diffrent colour combinations of glass beads. A must for every collector of beads. And fun to recognise the collected beads.

This is actually the fourth in a series of books by John & Ruth Picard on antique trade beads. Essentially this volume is a 90-page descriptive catalog of Venitian Millifiore beads used for trade with Africa. Large format and measuring 8 1/2 by 11 inches ( or 21.5 by 28 cm), One of the most attractive and obvious peatures is that every bead is pictured in color and if known, details of the manufacturing process are provided! The Picards open by describing how these beads were made and defining some of the terms used throughout. Millifiore means "Thousand Flowers" in the Italian language, and indeed many of these beads seem to boast floral patterns. ALso included is a helpful article by Jamey Allen, "A Short History of Millifiore Work".

Each one of these beads is a mini work of art, truely lovely to behold. If you are lucky enough to have some of these little treasures, or simply have an interest in glasswork and history, you will probably enjoy leafing through this work. Happy Beading :)