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Alex Malloy

A Roman Millefiori Glass Bead, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE

A Roman Millefiori Glass Bead, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE

Regular price $300.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $300.00 USD
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Of round circular shape, core-formed from black glass with yellow stripes and a zigzag pattern around red and yellow "flowers"

Translated to "A thousand flowers" in Italian, millefiori refers to the most common floral design patterns.  Millefiori beads (a mosaic glass), were made in ancient times and had numerous sections of patterned canes placed in close proximity parallel to one another and heated to fuse together. The pad of millefiori glass was then rolled upon itself and shaped to form a bead. When Italians reinvented millefiori glass, they usually applied cane pieces to a separate base, often the bead's core, and fused the parts together; this is a way ancient beads may be distinguished.

Dimensions: Length: 12 mm (0.47 inches)

Condition: Intact and in very good condition overall.

Provenance:   Alex Malloy collection, acquired in the 1980s.

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