A technique in
Murano glass to give it an
iridescent appearance. The
glassblowers of Murano (an island off
Venice) discovered it by accident in the early 17th century.
Metallic components of the colouring, such as copper or chrome, are slowly crystallized out of the molten glass. The technique was also known as pasta stellaria, because of the starry or spangly appearance given by the suspended metals.
The name is the Italian form of the mineral adventurine, which has a similar appearance because of inclusions of mica in quartz.