The history of fused glass
dates back as far as the turn of the 5th to 4th millennia BC.
Although there is still some uncertainty as to when and where glass was
invented, the philosopher Pliny wrote that glass shards were first created
by the Phoenicians. It is believed sailors produced the substance by
chance while lighting fires on the coast of what is modem-day Lebanon,
where one of the most important glass-making centers of the period later flourished.
This early glass was produced from a mixture of
silica sand, lime, and soda, with malachite added for color.
Glass was first implemented on Egyptian vessels as a skin applied to a core made
of silica sand and clay, or of the stone steatite. Pure glass as a separate material
was developed later, first in the form of translucent beads.
It is probable the that the development of glass vessels was brought to
Egypt by Middle Eastern craftsmen, who were captured as slaves.
These early glass vessels were highly prized and available only to
Egyptian royalty and high priests.
The decline of the power of the Pharaohs led to a halt of the development
of new glass techniques until beginning of the Greco-Roman era.
During this period, new
Egyptian glass centers developed near Alexandria. Around the beginning of the Christian era, molded
glass bowls began to appear. The decorative innovation known
as Millefiori glass became very popular, made from
variously colored glass rods fused together.
The major economic advance of glass-blowing took place during the 1st century BC,
probably in the area of modern-day Syria. Clear
glass was used to blow-form vessels, rather than having to build a glass
shell over an internal core. With the development of
glass-blowing, the production of glass vessels was increased many-fold.
The ancient methods of fusing glass were largely forgotten for the next
two millennia. Today, these techniques are making a resurgence
as a modern-day art form.
