Vintage Venetian Fiorato “Wedding Cake” Bead Necklace | Murano Glass, Gold Filigree Flower Spacers | Mid-Century

Mid-century Venetian Fiorato bead necklace in aqua turquoise Murano glass. Eight handmade lampworked beads, each decorated with pink roses, aventurine (copper) trailing, and forget-me-not flowers in the traditional Fiorato technique. Separated by gold tone filigree flower spacers. Barrel clasp closure.

Fiorato, meaning “flowered” in Italian, is one of the oldest and most skilled forms of Murano glass beadmaking. Each bead is formed one by one under a flame using colored glass canes. The base color is laid first, then a band of aventurine glass (infused with copper filings to create a gold shimmer) is melted around the center. Pink and white canes form the roses, and tiny dots of blue and yellow create the forget-me-nots. The raised floral details are what earned these beads the nickname “wedding cake beads,” because they resemble piped icing.
This technique has been practiced on Murano Island since the 13th century, and in 2020 was recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The aqua/turquoise base color is considered one of the rarer colorways for Fiorato beads, making this piece especially collectible.

All beads intact. Filigree spacers in good condition. Clasp functional. Beautiful aged patina throughout.

Origin: Murano Island, Venice, Italy
Era: Circa 1930s to 1950s
Technique: Lampworked Fiorato (Wedding Cake)
Material: Murano glass, gold tone filigree
Sourced in South Florida.