This page features a sampling of my Arabesque
Canes. The term 'Arabesque' is described as "an ornament or surface decoration with intricate curves, interlacing and
flowing lines or geometrical decoration". This term seems to aptly fit these Millefiori canes which have become my signature
as well as my passion! Keep in mind that all of the designs are created purely from the colored clay...no paints or
pigments are used.
Millefiori means "thousand flowers" in Italian. It originated as the use of canes or rods (in the shape of a drinking straw)
of colored glass being arranged in a bundle. When the bundle of glass is viewed from each end, the pattern of a flower or
other decorative image is seen. After the glass is fused, slices are taken off of the cane and used as decoration. Millefiori
has decorated objects from the time of ancient Mesopotamia to the present day, and now the technique of Millefiori has been
adapted to Polymer Clay. These Arabesque Canes start out very large, usually weighing five to seven pounds. I
"build" the canes using many shapes and designs and also very precise techniques to form it's finished
pattern. It is then reduced (made smaller) by manipulating and stretching the cane to a diameter of approximately
one inch. Care and expertise are required to ensure that the canes' design does not become distorted during
the (somewhat violent!!) reduction process. After reduction, slices are taken off of the cane and used, along with
many other techniques, to create pieces of wearable art, examples of which are shown in the Galleries on this website. Click on any image for a detail view
The three canes shown in this section don't qualify as
Arabesque in style, but were inspired by Art Nouveau and Aesthetic ceramic tiles and paintings.
New plaid and floral coordinating canes....These canes
showcase my newest workshop "Coordinated Caning: Create A Set Of Coordinating Canes In One Sitting". More info on this workshop
coming soon...
