Romano-Egyptian Millefiori Glass Fragment

Millefiori, meaning “a thousand flowers” in Italian, is a form of mosaic glass distinguished by its intricate, often floral patterns. The technique originated with Egyptian craftsmen in the 2nd century BC during the Hellenistic period and was later refined by Greek and Roman artisans. It involved arranging bundles of thin, multicoloured glass canes in a deliberate sequence, heating them until they fused into a single larger cane, and then stretching it to reduce the size of the internal motifs. Once cooled, the cane was sliced into cross-sectional discs displaying the miniature patterns. These slices were used as inlays, formed into beads, or applied across the surface of a hot, partially blown vessel. The vessel would then be heated and blown a second time, allowing the millefiori fragments to merge seamlessly into the glass and create the distinctive mosaic effect. This labour-intensive process demanded exceptional skill and patience, resulting in some of the most beautiful and technically sophisticated glassware of the ancient world. Fragments such as this come from a number of mediums, such as tiles, bowls and plaques.