Most Venetian millefiori beads were made for the African trade. Most were made during the early 1900's. This is not to mean that Venetian bead makers did not make millefiori prior to the eary 20Th entury, as they did. Venetian bead makers were making millefiori beads for better than 2,000 years or more. For some reason they quit making the bead and did not re-introduce it until the early 20Th century. Most of the millefiori beads traded to African peoples are now in America, in private collections ,and in museums. Many early 1900 beads have been held by private collectors and are just now making their way into the market place. I am talking about beads that were never been circulated until this year, 2008.