According to legend, these biconal glass trade beads were worn by African chiefs, hence the name King beads.
King beads are old Venetian wound and marvered bicone beads.
African King Beads are a rare find, as unlike most African Trade Beads manufactured throughout the 1800's in Venice, these bold, striped bicones are the result of a highly skilled technique known as marvering. The marver - a long thin rod of polished steel - is commonly used in glass-blowing, and forms the base around which around which each glass bead is individually wound. Steel has the capacity to absorb heat directly from the outermost skin of the glass, making it easier for smaller strips of colored glass to be applied to produce the striped patina.
King Beads continue to be highly sought after today, however, only the bicone shaped ones are authentic.
Height: 18 1/2". Each bead has a diameter of 3/8"
