A　novel,　multi-spherical,　sliding　friction　isolation　bearing　for　seismic　design　of　bridges　is　developed　in　this　paper.　The　configuration　characteristics,　operation　and　sliding　mechanism　are　explained.　The　nonlinear　restoring　model　is　presented　and　the　simplified　calculation　formula　of　force-displacement　relationship　of　the　bearing　with　identical　friction　coefficient　of　frictional　interface　is　established.　Experiment　of　mechanics　performance　is　carried　out　and　the　sliding　order　and　the　force-displacement　relationship　are　verified.　The　results　show　sliding　order　in　theoretical　analysis　and　experimental　observation　is　identical　and　force-displacement　relationship　curve　derived　from　theoretical　analysis　is　well　agreed　with　experimental　results.　The　multi-spherical　sliding　friction　isolation　bearing　has　good　energy　dissipation　capacity,　horizontal　displacement　capacity,　designated　re-centering　function,　smart　stiffness　and　smart　damping　behavior　under　different　intensity　amplitudes　external　excitation　as　it　can　optimize　the　parameters　of　an　isolation　system　for　a　given　bridge　based　on　multiple　performance　objectives　or　multiple　earthquake　levels.　These　characteristics　make　the　proposed　bearing　suits　for　performance-based　seismic　design　of　bridges　for　multiple　levels　of　ground　shaking.　©　2014　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.