Murano (Attributed) | Millefiori Glass Paperweight | Red, Turquoise & White

Murano (Attributed) | Millefiori Glass Paperweight | Red, Turquoise & White

A thousand flowers, cut from glass rods and set under a lens of clear glass, so they can never fade.

Millefiori, Italian for "a thousand flowers", is made by arranging cross-sections of patterned glass canes to form intricate designs. The technique has ancient origins and was revived by Venetian glassmakers in the 19th century. It became closely associated with Murano, particularly in decorative glass and paperweights.

The paperweight is a low dome of clear glass over a close-packed arrangement of millefiori canes. Red, turquoise-blue and white patterns sit alongside green canes with white star-shaped centres, and pale canes with dark, cogwheel-like outlines. The clear dome magnifies the patterns beneath it, and small air bubbles are visible among the canes. The base is flat and smooth, without a signature or label.

The paperweight is in very good condition, with no chips or cracks. A few light impact marks are present on the surface.

Key Details

• Maker: attributed to Murano, Italy; unmarked
• Age: vintage
• Form: domed millefiori paperweight with flat base
• Material: clear glass with millefiori canes
• Decoration: close-packed canes in red, turquoise-blue, white and green; star and cogwheel canes
• Weight: 60 g
• Condition: very good; no chips or cracks; a few light impact marks to the surface
• Buyer profile: collector of millefiori paperweights; collector of decorative glass; someone looking for a small, colourful desk piece

Collector Appeal

The close-packed arrangement lets each cane pattern be seen at close range, while the clear dome gives it depth. Its compact size suits a desk, a small shelf or a cabinet of collected glass.

Each flower is a slice from a rod of patterned glass; the whole design runs through its length, though only its face is seen.