Venetian Glass Beads. History and Techniques (16th-20th Centuries)

For over thirty years, Márcia de Castro and Guy Maurette have been collecting beads.
Throughout history, in all civilizations, people have made beads from a wide variety of materials. Five thousand years ago, when glass appeared, it also made it possible to create beads, which are now among the most beautiful in the world.

Glasswork is well-known in Venice, but the specific craft of making beads is less known. And yet, it was in Venice that most of the beads used as currency in trade with civilizations around the world were made. "They designed models according to the tastes of the populations they were intended for," explains Guy Maurette, talking about trade beads.

Márcia de Castro and Guy Maurette will talk about this very topic at the upcoming conference, which will be accompanied by an exceptional exhibition of their collection, from November 12 to 15, in the museum cafeteria.