What is Murano Glass ? The processing of glass, part four : Murrina and Millefiori

www.murrina.it - The Murrina / Millefiori rod is a hollow or solid rod composed on the inside of concentric layers of glass in different colors which form, in section, a characteristic star of flower motif. Its production requires a number of open molds which press a star or flower pattern on each successive colored layer, after which the rod is pulled out dozens of meters. A distinct type of murrina / millefiori rod is the rosetta, which dates from the XV th century and presents characteristic star motifs in white, red and blue glass in alternate layers. The rod in generally cut into sections, which are often called murrine. If the rod is hollow, the sections may be smoothed and become beads. Solid sections may also be laid side by side and fused in the kiln to make pendants, or on a larger scale, dishes or bowls. The sections of millefiori rod also constitute the modular decorative element, fused to the bottom of a small hemispheric mass of crystal, for pendants and Pearls.