HISTORY OF GLASS
When Rome conquered Egypt in 30 B.C., glass came to be used more widely also in Italy to the extent that Rome itself - at Porta Capena - saw the creation in 14 A.D. of a glass-making workshop. At the end of XIII century, the history of glass, especially of mouth-blown glass, came to be identified almost exclusively with the famous glass-makers of Murano and became part of the history of art. Craftsman processing of glass dates back to very remote times and there are relics even as old as IV millennium B.C. testifying that glass and glass paste were worked to create pendants or imitate precious stones.
The invention of mouth-blown glass-making techniques can undoubtedly be attributed to the Phoenicians; subsequently, there were important developments also in Egypt and Syria.
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| The corroded glass of this Roman vase (I century A.D.) found in Reims creates iridescent effects. It was blown, except for the neck and the handle which were worked by hand. | This blown glass goblet, of Egyptian origin, dates to VII century B.C. and has a looped handle fitted separately. The decorative effect was achieved using pliers to work the still-molten glass. | The "Falcon Necklace" from the burial treasures of an Egyptian queen. It partly comprises majolica or faience pearls with a dark green colour. It dates back to XX century B.C. |