Millefiori Necklace with detachable pendant

Description

From Wikipedia:

"The term millefiori is a combination of the Italian words "mille" (thousand) and "fiori" (flowers).
The millefiori technique involves the production of glass canes or rods, known as murrine, with multicolored patterns which are viewable only from the cut ends of the cane. Millefiori beads are made of plain wound glass bead cores. Thin slices of cut cane (murrine) are being pressed into the bead surface, forming mosaic-like patterns, while the glass is still hot. Millefiori beads can be decorated sparingly with a small number of murrine or they can be covered entirely, either by the same style of murrine, or by a combination of two or more styles, applied to form a flush, smooth surface, or left protruding from the bead. The manufacture of mosaic beads can be traced back to Ancient Rome, Phoenician and Alexandrine times. Although the Millefiori technique was developed in Murano, Italy in the 15th century, the heyday of Millefiori bead manufacture ranged from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.

The Millefiori technique is a labour intensive process. Each Millefiori item is inividually and painstakingly handmade."

This necklace is made from small black and yellow millefiori beads with black onyx round beads and sterling silver spacers. It features a large millefiori pendant sculpture wrapped in sterling silver wire. The pendant is detachable so that the necklace can be worn without the pendant or the pendant can be worn on a chain or ribbon. The necklace is 18" long and the pendant measures 2.375" (60mm) x 1.625" (42mm). The clasp is a sterling silver toggle clasp. A 2" extension is available for an additional $8.00

I send packages through priority mail. If you would like to have your item shipped first class, or any other way, please let me know.

Buyers from Illinois will be charged 7% sales tax.

Added on Oct 28, 2009