French lamp; early 20th century.

French lamp; early 20th century.
Millefiori blown glass with metal dragonflies.
Inscriptions: Le Verre Francaise.
The shade and body are illuminated. Not electrified.
Measurements: 53 x 28 cm.
A 20th-century French lamp featuring millefiori ornamentation, a glassmaking technique that produces distinctive decorative patterns in glassware. The term “millefiori” is a combination of the Italian words “mille” (thousand) and “fiori” (flowers). Murano’s reputation as a center of glassmaking began when the Republic of Venice, fearing fires and the destruction of the city’s wooden buildings, ordered glassmakers to move their workshops to Murano in 1291. Murano glass is still associated with Venetian glass. The various homes where Vivien Leigh lived gave free rein to her decorative flair, resulting in an eclectic and varied ornamental style based on a collection of luxurious, sophisticated, and high-quality objects.