VENETIAN AND BOHEMIAN BEADS – Opened by Tracy Chevalier – plus the Society of Jewellery Historians presents research by Dr Tonia Marek

The private collections of trade beads in The Design Gallery’s current exhibition includes examples which have been highlighted in research by one of the world’s leading experts, Dr Tonia Marek. In a lecture given to members of the Society of Jewellery Historians in London (26th November 2024), Dr Marek discussed the cultural importance of Venetian beads in particular: ritual functions include ceremonial worship by Voodoo priests; rites of passage including puberty ceremonies; seduction techniques; and traditional healing. “These beads have many embodied values important to Africans; Europeans (traders) had no idea of the spiritual value ….glass “adornments” that the colonisers called trinkets were far, far more than ornamental…” Dr Marek explained.

We will report further on Dr Marek’s lecture and give details of the beads on display in the gallery, and for sale, as soon as possible.

A collection of rare necklaces found in West Africa and beyond has kindly been loaned by specialist dealer-collector Victor Austin, who first introduced Chrissie to the fascinating world of bead history. A 7 layer Chevron bead neckpiece, made on Murano in around 1600 and worn by tribal leaders for centuries, is a highlight of this wide-ranging exhibition. Other fine examples include “rattlesnake”, “Ambassadors”, “eye” and”millefiori” – many of which were traded in Africa. Beads were such high status “currency” – as Dr Marek points out, embodying spiritual values that the colonisers had no concept of – that they were traded for gold, palm oil, ivory and even people (slaves).

Fancy beads are also included, and for sale, created principally for the European and American markets; and seed beads – made in Venice and Bohemia and described by Tracy Chevalier in “The Glassmaker”, which were traded in North America for animal skins, used to create remarkable North American Native Indian clothing and much more, and sold to fashion designers in Paris, New York and other capital cities to adorn expensive luxuries.

The exhibition “Adornments: Venetian and Bohemian Trade Beads” has been extended  until Saturday 28th December, open Wednesdays to Saturdays 10am-5pm. We will also be open for our Champagne Weekend on the 6th, 7th and 8th December and on Christmas Eve 10am-4pm.

The exhibition was opened by the international best-selling author Tracy Chevalier, on the publication of her new novel “The Glassmaker” (The Borough Press), which charts the fortunes of a Muranese glass-making dynasty over 500 years of history, and in particular, the role of women in creating lampwork and trade beads. Tracy has loaned her own necklace, “The Chevalier”, a beautiful golden-green bead necklace that was created by the famous firm of Ercole Moretti to celebrate the book and her amazing contribution to the history of bead making.

Please email Chrissie for any further information: chrissie@thedesigngallery.com