Millefiore, also spelled millefiori, (pronounced “mill-fee-OHR-ee”) is an Italian term, meaning a “thousand flowers”. The process began as an ancient glassmaking technique originated by artists in Venice over a millenium ago. Rods of colored glass were stacked in a pattern and fused together. The fused stack was called a ‘cane’. When the end of the cane was sliced, it revealed a design. The designs were often floral, hence the name.
Polymer clay canes are made in a similar way. The purple butterfly cane above has been formed from rods of purple and white, blended together to create shaded rolls. The rolls are formed into shapes and assembled like a 3-dimensional puzzle. Once the pieces are assembled into the image, the pieces are packed with a different color (in this case, translucent) to allow the design to be reduced. Reducing is done by stretching the cane, causing the diameter to get smaller while the cane elongates, similar to heating glass and stretching it to make the glass rod thinner.
Once the cane is at the desired diameter, it is cut into pieces of a workable length and wrapped in plastic to keep it clean. The clay doesn’t dry out quickly at all, and can last in a fresh, soft state for years in a zipper-sealed plastic bag or container. Slices from canes like these are used as embellishments, ranging from Fimo nail art to jewelry and home decor.
