286 - Tubular bead; Rome, High Imperial period, 1st century B.C.

Tubular bead; Rome, High Imperial period, 1st century B.C. Millefiori glass. Measurements: 3.5 x 0.5 cm; 1.5 x 2.5 cm (base). Provenance: Family bequest of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Archaeological collection assembled beginning in the 1950s by successive generations of the family through acquisitions at European galleries and auction houses. This piece previously belonged to the Belgian private collection. A large glass bead featuring a dynamic and expressive decorative design. Known as “millefiori,” this is a glassmaking technique that produces distinctive decorative patterns in glassware. The term “millefiori” is a combination of the Italian words “mille” (thousand) and “fiori” (flowers). The use of glass began to spread widely starting in the 1st century A.D., following the discovery of the glassblowing technique around 40 B.C. on the eastern Mediterranean coast. This technique marked a major revolution and spread rapidly. Blown glass offered significant advantages over other materials because it did not alter the taste of the food it contained and was more impermeable than terracotta. Furthermore, the glassblowing technique allowed for the production of pieces in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, as well as faster production. Furthermore, glass pieces were easier to clean, so glass soon became the preferred material for household use.