These are not standard-sized smalti, but larger, irregular pieces called pezzi. Both pezzi and smalti are cut down from circular plates of glass which are made when blobs of molten glass, fresh from the furnace, are squashed under an iron press. These ones, almost certainly made at Orsoni in the 1970s, are a bit thicker than today's standard but do vary considerably.

From the studios of not one but two great Scottish mosaicists; once owned by George Garson, these pieces were then passed on to his student, Dugald MacInnes.  Dugald works principally in slate and naturally occuring materials and has released the pezzi to us. The glass probably dates from the 1970s when George Garson taught at Glasgow School of Art.  What makes them so distinctive and characterful is the colour mixes devised by George Garson - rich umbers, misty blues, mahogany tones are all absolutely beautiful and evocative of a particular time.

Please remember that these pezzi are at least 60 years old.  They are thoroughly robust and will cut just as beautifully as any modern glass, but you will find that their size and shape is not as consistent as that of newly-made pieces.   I have washed all of these, but you may find that they will benefit from a further soak and gentle scrub before use.