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REFERENCE: RJ2158

A Published Roman Millefiori Glass Bead, Roman Imperial Period, 1st Century BCE/CE

Sale price1,750 USD

This object qualifies for free USA shipping and a flat rate fee of $60 if shipping internationally.

A five-sided millefiori glass bead in white, red, yellow, and blue with red caps.  Mounted as a pendant using an adjustable 18K solid gold chain.

Background: Translated to "A thousand flowers" in Italian, millefiori refers to 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 one way ancient beads may be distinguished.

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

Condition: Complete, professionally rejoined from two pieces, in very good condition overall.

Dimensions: Length: 7/8 inch (2.22 cm)

Provenance: Christie's, London, 12/5/2017, sale 14231, lot # 110 (part), ex. The Alfred Wolkenberg Collection of Ancient Glass, Christie's, London, 9 July 1991, lot 130, ex. Resandro collection, acquired from the above sale.

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A Published Roman Millefiori Glass Bead, Roman Imperial Period, 1st Century BCE/CE
A Published Roman Millefiori Glass Bead, Roman Imperial Period, 1st Century BCE/CE Sale price1,750 USD