Glass making goes back a long time - all the way to 5000 B.C. Written records of Pliney, an ancient Roman historian, state that the Phoenician merchants inhabiting the region of Syria were the first to accidentally stumble upon a new and useful substance called 'glass'. However, many myths and legends shroud the actual discovery of glass.
Glass making in Egyptian times
The exquisite, and almost ethereal, shapes that glass makers create today have evolved over the centuries. By 3500 B.C., glass beads had started adorning the upper-echelons of Egyptian society. Glass beads and amulets, dating back to pre-Roman eras have been said to be worn as far back as 2500 B.C. During the pre-Roman times, glass vessels were being made but the art of glass blowing had not yet been invented. The Egyptians and those in the Middle East were mostly making glass mosaics.
Romans discover glass blowing
It was not until the 1st century BC that glass blowing, as it is known today, actually made an appearance in Syria (then under the Romans). This powerful discovery completely transformed the way glass would henceforth be used and, finally, appear. The tedious task of wrapping glass around a core to turn it into a vessel now became so much easier with the new glass blowing technique. Suddenly, a whole vista of endless possibilities opened up before Roman glass artisans.
In a short time, Rome began to dominate the glass market, as it did in many other trades. Rome soon became the ancient world's epicentre for production and distribution of blown glass.
Glass works during the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, glass was primarily made as coloured ornamentation for use in stained glass windows in the Gothic architecture that dominated most of Europe at that time.
From Venice to Murano
It was in this exciting period of change and discovery that glass blowing began to be concentrated in Venice, which had no less than 8,000 glass artisans during the Middle Ages! The Italians, however, guarded their glass blowing secrets zealously, going so far as to even lay down a stern decree that made sharing or 'leaking' out glass-blowing techniques to outsiders as a punishable offence!
Glass-making involved the extensive use of fire, which always a posed a risk to the crowded and timber-rich city of Venice. And, so in 1291, glass-making officially moved out of Venice to the then little-know and remote island of Murano. These Murano blowers soon became the last word in the delicate and time-consuming art of glass blowing, creating exquisite shapes and designs that would enthrall coming generations. But, at the cost if their freedom. No artisan or his family was allowed to leave the shores of Murano -- it was an offence punishable by death.
Murano artisans escape to Europe
Still, many artisan makers did manage to escape Murano and it was they who spread the art of glass blowing outside Venice and introduced it to Tyrol, Vienna, Flanders, France and England. The earliest Venetian glass was used for making rosaries as evidenced by some 13th century rosary beads that have been since discovered. These talented Murano artisans also made a spectacular contribution to the way mirrors were made. Polished metal mirrors began to give way to lovely glazed mirrors (women were delighted!)
Glass blowing in China
There is not much known about glass being made in China -- even while it was being moulded into fantastic shapes and decorative pieces in far away Rome. The earliest records of glass in China date to 221 B.C. - 220 A.D. It is believed that blown glass was introduced to China by Persian artists. Historians now attribute the limited interest in the substance generally in ancient China to the incredible and widespread use of paper technology. For example, in China windows were 'glazed' with strong, translucent paper panes. They simply did not see the need for 'glass'!
D Mukherjee is a former journalist who contributes to numerous UK websites, including one on decorated wine glasses where you can see modern artistry in glassware. If you want to buy contemporary hand-decorated cocktail glasses, visit: http://www.pressies4princesses.co.uk/Novelty-Glasses1.shtml.
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