The ancient stonewalls of the buildings and alleys in Old Jaffa resonate with centuriesof travelers and conquerors that came, saw, conquered and werevanquished here. Slowly but surely they have been restored, and nowhouse studios and galleries for many artists pursuing old and newcrafts. Among those, the unsuspecting and delighted visitors whomeander through the old city of Jaffa can find the world of color,shape and texture of the creations by Adina Plastelina - creationsusing old techniques and new materials to create a whole new andenticing world of jewelry and gifts. TheMillefiori technique for fashioning brightly colored glass jewelry anddishes was developed in Mesopotamia in the 14th century BC. It wasalso used in Ancient Egypt, and this "Glass Mosaic" was highlyprevalent in Greece and Rome. Indeed, beads found in Roman ruins stillshine with bright colors. The technique for working glass in thismanner is best known for its "new" (Middle Ages) home in Murano, Italy– which until today is still the home of the famous Murano Glass. Tomake Millefiori, Glass rods in many colors are fused together to makeone rod, then reheated and pulled to make a very thin cane whilemaintaining the pattern of the original rods. The cane is then cooledand cut into slices. Each slice looks like a flower – hence the modernterm "Millefiori" which in Italian means – a thousand flowers – all ofwhich have the same pattern. These slices are set into molds andreheated to fuse together as the desired finished product creations(see Millefiori Necklace, Millefiori Earrings). Polymerart is a new craft which emerged during the second half of thetwentieth century, using many art techniques previously associated withother materials. Adi Prahia and Sami Leder of Israel are among thosepolymer clay artists who have adopted and adapted the millefioritechnique to polymer clay while utilizing the unique properties of theclay. With a background in arts and crafts (Adi) and sculpting (Sami),they joined forces and towards the end of 2004 opened the AdinaPlastelina studio and gallery near the Old Jaffa port, where alongsidetheir staff they make and sell their colorful.
Thepolymer clay can be formed into a multitude of shapes without heating,and is available in a plethora of colors, enabling Adina Plastelina toreach an even greater variety and precision in Millefiori than ispossible with glass. Natural colors and textures, textile patterns,and modern art designs can all be recreated with the endlesspossibilities opened by the polymer clay.