Natural glass in the form obsidian dates back several hundred million years, and was formed as a result of volcanic activity and intense pressure. Manufactured glass was first discovered in the Near East, and was developed in Egypt and Mesopotamia from about 3500 B.C. The Egyptians produced glass vases and bowls by winding molten glass onto a clay mould. When the glass cooled, the clay was removed, leaving the hollow shape. It was the Romans, however, who in about 100 B.C. discovered the art of glass blowing, and the methods they devised are still in use today. The Romans spread the art of glass making throughout the Empire, producing not only vases and bottles and urns, but also window glass, used in the most lavish of Roman villas, and glass tesserrae for flooring and decorative mosaic work.
Following the fall of the Roman Empire, glass-blowing as an art almost died out in Western Europe, only remaining in isolated pockets of activity, such as Cologne in Germany. By the end of the seventh century we have records of Benedict Biscop importing glass-workers from France in order to produce window glass for his new church of St. Peter’s Monkswearmouth, in 674/5. The Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions dealt a further blow to glass-making in England, and glass became used almost entirely only for jewellery and applied decoration and ornament. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries the art of glass blowing was re-imported from the Middle East, (where it had continued to flourish) mainly through the Venetian trade-routes, and gradually spread again throughout Western Europe.
Medieval Inscribed Glass Jug, ca. 12th.-14th.cent
Mould-blown in pale green with dark blue bands to shoulder, neck and rim, the body globular with moulded text, the neck tubular with a flared rim and...[read more]
Roman Glass Vessel Group, ca. 2nd.-3rd. cent. A.D
The blue and green glass jars, with flared necks and rims, include pinched decoration and detail and moulded leaf-pattern to the bodies, and the...[read more]
Medieval Rock Crystal Reliquary
This extremely rare and fine Fatimid/Mesopotamian crystal jar, (dating to ca. 800-900 A.D.) was re-used in the 12th.-13th. century A.D. as a...[read more]
Sweetmeat Glass, English, ca. 1685
The flared bowl with folded rim and moulded gadrooned base, is presented on a triple-knopped stem and folded conical foot. A transitional piece,...[read more]
Roman Unguentarium, ca. 2nd. cent. A.D
This remarkably preserved mould-blown example would have been used to contain ointment or perfume. It would have been sealed with either a cork, tied...[read more]
Anglo-Saxon Cloisonne Lobed Disc Brooch, ca. late 10th. cent
Copper-alloy with gilt. Cloisonne enamel in dark blue, white, and yellow, with cabochon glass in five of the seven lobed extensions. This distinctive...[read more]
Viking Cloisonne Disc Brooch, ca. 10th. cent
Made of a copper alloy, with traces of gilt remaining, and enamel glass decoration in blue, red, green and white. The design is a standard ‘La...[read more]
Onion and Conical Unguetaria ca. 4th. cent. A.D.
Both these pieces are associated with English sites, although it is impossible to say where they were actually made. The conical flask is most likely...[read more]
Egyptian Late Period Glass Amulet Group, ca 664-332 B.C.
A mixed group of rare glass figural amulets. Amulets are items worn to protect their wearer by their religious associations, a religious equivalent...[read more]
Egyptian Glass Polychrome Bead Necklace, ca 1550-1070 B.C., New Kingdom
A necklace created from an assemblage of cylindrical cream, turquoise, and red glass beads with interstitial groups of white, coral, turquoise,...[read more]
Obsidian Glass Beads, ca. 7,000,000 B.C.
This naturally occurring glass was very popular as a semi-precious stone in Victorian times, and these beads were probably turned by Italian workers...[read more]
