The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Heartshaped green stone plaque [ARK00038]
Attached People: Collector (major) - Bargrave, John (1610-1680)Location(s): Current location at - Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives (Library and/or Archive) -> Canterbury Cathedral (Institution)
Annotation:[Canterbury Catalog: Green "Millefiori" manufactured into shape of a heart. Millefiori is a glasswork technique which produces distinctive decorative patterns on glassware. The term millefiori is a combination of the Italian words "mille" (thousand) and "fiori" (flowers). The manufacture of mosaic beads can be traced back to Phoenician period. Millefiori was used in thin slices to brilliant effect in the early 7th century Anglo-Saxon jewellery from Sutton Hoo. This piece was collected by Bargrave in Italy along with other fragments and specimens. Bargrave writes that he was at Piazza Navona in Rome in 1646, where an obelisk was created by Cavalier Bernino; "I took another stone, and with it broke off of the butt end of it this piece and as much more, and had this polished".] (c1646)