Vintage Venetian Murano Millefiori Glass Large Oval Focal Bead for Sale

Vintage Venetian Murano Millefiori Glass Large Oval Focal Bead For Sale

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Vintage Venetian Murano Millefiori Glass Large Oval Focal Bead:
$87.05

• Length: 0.85 inches (22mm)
• Diameter: 0.8 inches (20mm)
• Hole Size: Large 3.5mm vertical drill hole
• Materials: Murano soda-lime art glass, mineral-oxide cane slices• Design: Chunky, hand-wound oval barrel bead encasing a mosaic patchwork of multicolored starburst and floral canes layered over an opaque background
• Colors: Vibrant combination of bright primary red, tangerine orange, royal blue, lemon yellow, kelly green, translucent lavender, and stark white
• Condition: Good vintage condition with genuine production character; features smooth external surfaces, micro-pitting, minor internal air bubbles (seed bubbles), and soft ash residue inside the hand-wound mandrel channel from the kiln-firing processThis beautiful, heavy focal component is a classic example of twentieth-century Italian millefiori (thousand flowers) art glass, handmade on the island of Murano. The complex mosaic pattern was achieved by fusing distinct rods of colored glass together, stretching them into long, intricate geometric canes, and slicing them into small cross-sections. These individual flower-like discs were then carefully rolled onto a core of molten base glass while still on the metal mandrel. After a final heat-softening, the bead was masterfully hand-shaped into its rounded oval form, cooling slowly over hours to ensure permanent structural durability.The ancient mosaic glass technique dates back to historical Roman and Alexandrian glassworks, but it was revived and perfected by Venetian master glassblowers during the late nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries. Originally used as premier trading commodities across international trade routes, these vibrant beads transitioned into highly desirable staples for casual bohemian fashion jewelry during the retro movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Because every individual cane slice shifts slightly during the hand-winding process, no two beads ever share the same identical pattern configuration. This unique asymmetry makes the piece an exceptional standalone centerpiece for custom artisan necklaces, historical reconstructions, or vintage jewelry restoration.
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