Transparent or opaque, in vivid or muted colours, elegantly decorated and unusually shaped – it is remarkable that such a fragile material has remained so beautiful for centuries. Equally remarkable is the craftsmanship with which these utilitarian and decorative objects were made. In recent years, the latest research methods have been used to gain deeper insight into the technical aspects of ancient glass. Visitors to the exhibition can enjoy the beauty of the collection while discovering more about the sophisticated production techniques of glass in antiquity.
In addition to the ancient glass objects, the exhibition features works by two contemporary artists. Bert Frijns (1953) and Emmy van de Grift (1998) drew inspiration from ancient glassmakers. Van de Grift created new work especially for the exhibition during a residency at the glass studio in Leerdam.
The First Step Towards Mass Production
Glass was already being produced in Egypt as early as the 15th century BCE. To create small vessels, semi-molten threads of differently coloured glass were wound around a clay core — a technique that would be used for centuries. A major development in glass production came in the 2nd century BCE, when cast and polished bowls began to appear in households. These were made by placing a sheet of hot glass over a convex mould, allowing gravity to shape it. The mould could be reused multiple times, marking the first step towards mass production.
Date-Shaped Bottle
In Roman times, glass was an essential part of daily life — much like plastic is today. Wine and olive oil were stored in large bottles, while fragrant oils were kept in small flasks. There were all kinds of drinking glasses, and beautiful glass ornaments adorned doorposts and furniture. Around the mid-first century BCE, the technique of glassblowing was discovered, likely by accident. The earliest blown bottles were simple in shape, resembling a test tube with a balloon-like end. The technique of glassblowing quickly evolved, and glassmakers soon mastered the art of creating elegant jugs, bottles, cups and bowls. A key innovation following the discovery of glassblowing was the use of a mould. One example in the exhibition is a bottle shaped like a date. A mould was made from a real date, into which the hot glass was blown. This method opened the door to endless possibilities — a richness the exhibition illustrates in full.
Nuclear Reactor and X-ray Techniques
For the exhibition Of Glass, several objects were examined in collaboration with TU Delft. Using new scientific methods, researchers investigated the exact composition and manufacturing processes of ancient glass objects. They employed both a nuclear reactor and advanced X-ray techniques. In addition, a unique form of research was carried out at the Allard Pierson using photography inside a special dome equipped with 64 built-in LED lights. The minute traces of production that were revealed helped answer various technical questions. The exhibition presents the findings of this research.
A publication (from WBOOKS) will accompany the exhibition, featuring not only a catalogue of the museum’s collection but also a series of articles on the technical research and the history of the collection.
About the Allard Pierson and the glass collection.
As part of the University of Amsterdam, the Allard Pierson collects, manages and makes accessible valuable and relevant cultural heritage from antiquity to the present day. The foundation for the archaeological collections was laid over a century ago by two collectors: Constant Willem Lunsingh Scheurleer and Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Bissing. They also collected glass objects, many of which still belong to the Allard Pierson. For this exhibition, a broad selection has been made from the 450 ancient glass objects currently held by the museum.