A published Group of Millefiori, Mosaic and Eye Glass Beads, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE/CE

This stunning necklace features eight distinct multicolor glass millefiori cylindrical beads, each adorned with various stylized floral motifs and solid color borders. These beads are enhanced by ovoid glass eye beads, along with antique 18K gold spacer beads in the Etruscan style.

Background: "Millefiori," which translates to "a thousand flowers" in Italian, refers to a popular floral design pattern. Millefiori beads, a type of mosaic glass, were created in ancient times by placing numerous sections of patterned glass canes in close proximity to each other and then heating them to fuse together. The resulting pad of millefiori glass was then rolled upon itself and shaped into a bead. When Italian artisans reinvented millefiori glass, they typically applied cane pieces to a separate base, often the bead's core, and fused the components together. This technique is how ancient millefiori beads can be distinguished from more modern variations.

Tubular beads published: I. Grimm-Stadelmann (ed.), Aesthetic Glimpses, Masterpieces of Ancient Egyptian Art, The Resandro Collection, Munich, 2012, p. 239, no. R-789.

Medium: Glass, gold

Dimensions: Length: 18 inches (45.7 cm)

Condition:  One tubular glass bead has been repaired from two original pieces with some loss along the break line, the balance are intact and in excellent condition overall.  Restrung with Etruscan-style antique spacers of 18K gold.

Provenance:  Tubular beads: The Alfred Wolkenberg Collection of Ancient Glass, Christies, London, 9 July 1991, lot 130, thereafter Resandro collection, Germany, acquired from the above sale, thereafter Christies, London, 12/5/2017, sale 14231, lot # 110.