Millefiori glass fragment

[mauseus]

Hi,

Does anyone know anything about polychrome millefiori glass? I just picked up this small opaque fragment in white, yellow, red and blue. It is about 20mm across from left to right and 5 mm thick with an unpolished underside so the pattern is not visible.

Any help with the manufacturing culture would be appreciated.

Regards,

Mauseus

[Jay GT4]

Romans used these as beads.  Here are some replica ones which give dates for originals:

https://www.armamentaria.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=53&sort=20a&page=3

[Joe Sermarini]

Probably Roman Egypt.

[mauseus]

Hi,

Thank-you both for your input.

@JayGT4: this is flat, rather than rounded so probably isn't a bead

@Joe S: I thought that this looked similar to some of the pieces that you handled from the Malloy collection but I wasn't certain and didn't want to presume. I know we are guessing but at least we are both along the same lines.

Regards,

Mauseus

[Joe Sermarini]

My glass books are all at another location (not enough room in the house), so I can't check  but the design seen familiar.  This type of work was done mostly in Egypt.  I think Egypt, c. 100 B.C. - 100 A.D.  Perhaps earlier, but I don't think so.