ornament

Object NameMillefiori Glass Ball

Made FromGlass, Silver

Dateabout 1550-1600

Place MadeItaly, Venice

TechniqueHot worked, assembled, cased

SizeOverall H: 6.6 cm, Diam (max): 5.1 cm

Accession Number2004.3.44

Curatorial Area(s)

Early Modern

Exhibitions

Flowers Which Clothe the Meadows

On ViewEuropean Gallery

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

This ball is decorated with slices of multicolored glass canes. Glass containing multicolored canes is often called millefiori (Italian, “1,000 flowers”).

Physical DescriptionMillefiori Ball. Multicolored canes cased in colorless glass with silver mount through center. Assembled while hot. Ball made of tightly fused multicolored millefiori murrine cased with colorless glass, with hole through center to accommodate silver post with applied ring held in place on top and bottom by quatrefoil-shaped silver plates. Plates are decorated with engraved floral motif.
Provenance

Source Bailly-Pommery & Voutier Associes - 2004-12-14

Former Collection Jean Chelo

Former Collection Alexandre Imbert

Owner Caroline Imbert