GLASS NEWS

methods and techniques of mosaic glass tesserae: Review:
BSMGP Conference
In addition to meetings about the ongoing work on the
outputs of the Network and future plans, workshop ASPECTS OF 20TH CENTURY STAINED GLASS
members presented papers on the workshop topic and 31 July-1 August 2008
latest discoveries and also visited important local Glaziers’ Hall, London
sites. In Venice, Luca Chiesura from the Orsoni
factory of mosaic glass gave us a very simulating tour This summer in London, the British Society of Master
of the factory. The Director of Restoration in San Glass Painters and the Worshipful Company of
Marco, architect Ettore Vio, showed us very Glaziers of London organized a joint international
significant parts of the church. In Ravenna we were conference on 20th-century stained glass, featuring
treated to two guided close-up sessions by the chief speakers from the UK, Europe and the USA.
restorers: San Apollinare Nuovo by Cetty Muscolino
and the Neonian Baptistery by Claudia Tedeschi. Figure 1: By Anthony Holloway, courtesy of the estate
of Anthony Holloway.
The Network also held a Study Day at the British Day 1 began with Julie Sloan discussing the Prairie
Museum in London on 5 June ’08 on the topic of School, a US architectural movement related to Arts
Byzantine mosaics. Papers were presented by Tony & Crafts and Modernism. Its designs were
Eastmond (Courtauld); Cecily Hennessey (Christie’s); characterized by horizontal-banded stained glass
Liz James (Sussex); Claire Nesbitt (Durham); windows and, frequently, geometrical motifs or those
Konstantinos Politis (HSNES); Will Wootton (KCL). based on organic forms. Dr Libby Horner followed
The Study Day was very well attended with about 50 with an account of Frank Brangwyn’s designs, which
people and discussion extremely fruitful. highlighted his innate understanding of colour. His
first, based on Japanese plant designs, were
Network members presented at the 10th Conference of commissioned for a Paris gallery owner and made by
the International Committee for the Conservation of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Further designs for Tiffany
Mosaics (ICCM) in Palermo in Oct ’08 and the included stylized Art Nouveau subjects – typically
Network will also present at the 18th Congress of the female figures amongst trees and flowers. Church
AIHV in Thessaloniki in Sep ’09. The Network has windows included Bucklebury (Berks), Northampton,
its next meeting in Athens in June with a Study Day
planned in London in the Spring. Marco Verità is 7
speaking on the making of glass mosaics at the Study
Day at the BM “Byzantine Art in the Making”, on 27
Feb ’09, which is part of the programme of events
associated with the Byzantium 330-1453 exhibition at
the Royal Academy.
Work on the outcomes of the Network is on-going:
the creation of databases (on sites of mosaics;
secondary technical literature; primary sources). A
glossary of mosaic terms will be published online in
Dec 08.

For more information about any of these activities see
the Network’s website:
<www.sussex.ac.uk/arthistory/ByzantineGlass>

or contact Bente Bjornholt, Network Facilitator,
[[email protected]]

or Liz James, Network Director,
[[email protected]]

Glass News 25 January 2009

Manniton (Devon), Elveden (Suffolk), and St Day 2 began with artist Patrick Reyntiens comparing
Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. Michael Barker then the activity of sensitively interpreting another’s
described developments in French stained glass: from designs with that of realizing one’s own, reminding us
the 1900 Paris Exposition leading to Art Nouveau, that the latter is often a result of compromises
through Bing's commissions from Nabis artists; the between one’s own ideas and those of clients. He
rebuilding programme after the Great War; Art Deco likened this activity to the Trinity: the relationship
in the 1920s; to the collaboration of glassmakers such between the truth of the idea (Father), the other’s
as Charles Marc and Paul Bony based at historic methods (Son), and the process of opening to a
centres with renowned painters including Matisse at personal spontaneous and creative artistic activity in
Vence, Chagall at Metz then Reims and surrealist glass (Holy Spirit). He then discussed the evolution
Joan Miró at Senlis, as well as a host of other names. of, and influences on, his style, starting from his early
After lunch, Dr Iris Nestler spoke on ‘The Influence travels around France. Architect Dr Donald Buttress
of Modern Art on Glass in Germany’, spanning the followed, discussing the art of placing new glass in
period between Bruno Taut's glasshouse at the 1914 old windows, and stressing the need to respect the
Werkbund exposition in Cologne and Johan Thorn- setting of a window to achieve textural and tonal
Prikker, and Heinz Mack's architectonic utopia, balance. He elaborated on the ability of Pugin,
connecting developments in glasspainting with Comper and Kempe to produce designs that blended
parallel trends in modern art. Andrea McKay, into the architectural environment, and to ‘recycle’
speaking for Derix Studios, then described the fragments. A number of examples were then shown to
practical role of their studio in achieving artists’ illustrate successful and unsuccessful windows in old
visions and the techniques and approaches required to settings. The speaker concluded with a number of
realize them. The evening Glaziers’ Lecture, by artist pointers to practicing artists.
Alexander Beleschenko, discussed the ideas that
influenced his work, offering in-depth insights into Julie Sloan then returned to discuss an ambitious
the thought-processes and practices employed when project she is overseeing to restore a major scheme of
working with glass in architecture. stained glass made by James Powell & Sons for Saint
Thomas’s, New York – the largest restoration project
of its type ever undertaken in the United States. She
first described the condition of the windows, then
particular problems – notably asbestos-containing
sealant putty – necessitating cutting through the glass
fillets to separate the body of the panels from the
asbestos-containing borders.

After lunch, Peter Cormack described how the Arts
and Crafts Movement had transformed the teaching of
stained glass, introducing workshop practice and
apprenticeship into the education system alongside
designing skills. He elaborated on the syllabus taught
by Christopher Whall and his followers comprising:
(1) cutting and glazing, (2) drawing from nature and
glasspainting, and (3) ornament. Concluding, Martin
Harrison in ‘The Persistence of Gothic’ argued that,
although interest in English 20th-century stained glass
tends to focus on the Arts and Crafts Movement or the
avant-garde, until the 1960s most of the stained glass
supplied to churches followed more conservative
idioms rooted in the Late Victorian Gothic.

Chris Wyard

Figure 2: By Johannes Schreiter, courtesy of the Ely 8
Stained Glass Museum.

Glass News 25 January 2009

Review: conservators learn that there is more to conservation
than the assembly of three-dimensional jigsaw
SGT Annual Conference 2008 puzzles (see Figures 1 and 2).

10-12 September 2008
New Hall College, University of Cambridge

Figure 1: A bowl before…..

An audience of around 25 people attended this Figure 2: …and after conservation (Ken Watt)
successful event; which was one of two parallel
sessions on the same day, so some came and went as Sandy Davison’s thoughts on Historic Mirrors in
the day progressed. Malcolm Ingram set the scene Architecture touched on the history of how these
with his inaugural lecture, presenting his vision of the impressive artefacts were made. Naturally her
history of glassmaking and glass artefacts, with reflections were from a conservation viewpoint,
comments on the formative impact glass has had on exploring modes of deterioration in various contexts.
human society through the ages. History seen through Dunes Abbey at Koksijde, Belgium, provided the
the eyes of a Professor of Chemistry has somehow got focus of Hilde Wouter’s presentation. Shards of
a distinctive flavour! The science continued with medieval glazing had been found during
Sarah Fearn’s paper on the way in which moisture in archaeological work at the Abbey, but in an extreme
the environment attacks glass surfaces. She spoke state of deterioration. Her task was to discover the
with authority about careful laboratory investigation secrets still locked up in these “fabulous shards”
of replica façon de Venise glass samples using leading (Figure 3). The paper by António Pires de Matos
edge SIMS (Secondary Ion beam Mass Spectrometry) concerned the history of the Royal glassmaking
to analyse the glass from the surface downwards, facility at Marinha Grande, near Lisbon. He gave us a
layer by layer. The penetration of water into the glass, privileged view of glassmaking recipe books and
and the leaching of alkali ions, could be measured handwritten records of manufacture, again providing
with such sensitivity that they were able to study what history seasoned with a dash of chemistry.
happens to glass at room temperature on a timescale
of a few weeks, with clear implications for
conservation of ancient glass artefacts. By contrast,
my paper on how glassmaking defects can provide
information about historic glazings was very
homespun - my tools were a ruler and a digital
camera! Nevertheless, some insights into the making
of crown glass are starting to emerge.

Conservation is close to the heart of all who are
interested in ancient (and more modern!) glass. Ken
Watt spoke of the collaboration between the Museum
of London and West Dean College, where trainee

Glass News 25 January 2009 9

Figure 3: Fragments of medieval glazing (Hilde Review:
Wouter)
AHG Autumn 2008 Study Day
Art history was very much on the menu as Claire
Daunton set about putting medieval stained glass GLASS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM:
windows on the map with her survey of Norfolk and CURRENT RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND
survivals of fifteenth century Norwich School glass.
Victorian stained glass was Ruth Cooke’s subject and CONSERVATION
she provided a whistle stop tour of three prominent
nineteenth century firms, showing how the 25 October 2008
iconography and details of the artwork can help the
church visitor enhance his or her appreciation of the A wide range of approaches to glass analysis were
glazing on show. But for a really in depth discussed at the AHG study day; these different
appreciation of glass artefacts, choose a craftsman. approaches were applied to assemblages of varying
Ian Hankey brought to his paper his wealth of sizes, from individual pieces to large collections, and
experience designing and making works of art out of from a range of different civilisations and time
molten glass. He spoke passionately about the impact periods. There were a total of nine talks given over
of the industrial revolution on glassmaking, and about the day and a wonderful poster display, covering a
the way in which machine manufacture and the variety of glass related subjects.
associated philosophies had led to a devaluing of tacit
skills by society. Tacit skills are those intangible The morning began with Caroline Jackson, AHG
qualities, which should be recognised as the essential president, giving an introduction to the day, followed
ingredients of the true glass artist of the past - and by the first talk ‘Roman cameo glass in the British
equally of the true glass artist in the present day. A Museum’ by Paul Roberts. A brief introduction was
visit to Kings College Chapel on the following given, for those not as familiar with cameo glass, and
morning provided the icing on the cake, as Carola then a discussion of new ideas, including one that
Hicks, author of the book The King’s Glass (see GN looked at the short duration of production and its
23), gave us an insightful tour of the building and its implications. This was a very interesting and
glazing - a totally stunning experience. enjoyable talk to listen to and just a small taste of
what was to come.
Details of the day’s programme, together with
abstracts of the papers, may be found at: < The second speaker was Jennifer Price, who had
www.cambridge2008.sgthome.co.uk/pages/HandHPr intended to talk about ‘Some Romano-British vessel
og> All who attended took value from the event, glass in the British Museum’, but because of technical
commenting on the heady mix of the sciences and the difficulties this was replaced by ‘Early decorated
humanities, which fostered an enhanced appreciation mould-blown vessel glass found in London’. Jennifer
of our vitreous heritage. ran through the different types of finds discovered;
drinking vessels, ribbed small bowls and a single head
David Martlew cup. The glass vessels dated to the Flavian period or
later and appear to come only from settlement
deposits, apart from the head cup, which is thought to
be from a burial deposit.

Daniel Howells gave a detailed discussion of gold
glass titled ‘Gold glass in late antiquity: the British
Museum collection’. It covered the four different
types of gold glass; the brushed technique, cut and
incised gold leaf vessels, diminutive medallions and
gold leaf plaques; the distribution and functions of the
glass were also examined. It was very nice to see that
Daniel had experimented with making some of the
gold glass himself. ‘The Lycurgus cup revisited’ was
a fascinating talk given by Nigel Meeks on the

Glass News 25 January 2009 10

research completed by Ian Freestone, Margaret Sax, Roman cameo glass, and gold glass in antiquity.
Catherine Higgitt and Nigel. He discussed the
dichroic nature of the glass used to make the cup and Carlotta Gardner
the types of tools used to create the cage around it.
This was the last talk before Lunch, when we took the ASSOCIATION FOR THE
opportunity to look at the posters. Like the talks, a HISTORY OF GLASS
very wide variety of subjects was covered, for
example ‘Three glass fish from ancient Egypt?’ – 30 years on
(Stefan Roehrs and Marcel Maree) and ‘Early
medieval lead-rich glass in the British Isles’ (Justine 2008 marks the 30th Anniversary of the incorporation
Bayley). of the Association for the History of Glass. Surviving
records from the early years are incomplete but served
After Lunch, work by Ian Freestone, St John Simpson to compile this account of the Association’s history
and Tami Ishida ‘Beyond Rome: new light on and development.
composition and cutting techniques of Sasanian glass’
was presented. The composition of Sasanian glass On October 11, 1973, a meeting was held at the
from different areas was covered and also the Victoria and Albert Museum to discuss the formation
experimental work completed by Tami Ishida and of a British National Committee of L’Association
how this to understand the techniques used and how Internationale pour l’Histoire du Verre (AIHV) to
long it took to create a finished product. Following plan, organise and run the 8th AIHV congress to be
very nicely on from the previous talk ‘Analysing held in London and Liverpool in 1979. British
Sasanian and Islamic beads from a British Museum- delegates to previous AIHV congresses were invited
supported research project at Kush in the Persian to the meeting at which a committee of glass scholars
Gulf’ was presented by Stefan Roehrs and St John from varying disciplines having a common interest in
Simpson and discussed the results from the analysis the history of glass was formed under the Presidency
of the glass beads, using a SEM-EDX. Three main of Hugh Tait (British Museum). On 19th January 1978
groups were apparent; high alumina glass, plant-ash the British National Committee of AIHV was
soda-lime glass and potassium rich glass. Both of incorporated as an educational charity called ‘The
these talks were very interesting and showed the Association for the History of Glass Ltd’, registering
diversity of the objects covered in this study day. with Companies House as a Company Limited by
Guarantee and with the Charities Commission. The
Denise Ling gave a very useful and informative talk initial signatories were Hugh Tait, Mike Tite (British
on ‘Conservation of vessel glass in the British Museum), Robert Charleston, John Mallett and
Museum’. This highlighted the work of British Barbara Morris (Victoria and Albert Museum),
Museum conservators and described the processes Donald Harden (retired, former Director of the
that they work with; simple cleaning to complicated London Museum), Ian Burgoyne (Pilkington Glass
reconstruction methods were discussed as examples Museum), Gerald Taylor (Ashmolean Museum,
of the work completed. Oxford), George Boon (National Museum of Wales),
Revel Oddy (The Royal Scottish Museum), Dorothy
The penultimate talk was by Dora Thornton on ‘A Charlesworth (Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments
documentary Renaissance tazza in the British and Historic Buildings), Keith Davey (Dept of the
Museum’. Dora discussed her work on a fascinating Environment), Roy Newton (retired, Hon Visiting
16th century Venetian glass footed dish. This analysis Professor, University of York), Harold Rawson
showed how pieces of glasswork can be used to (University of Sheffield) Cyril Weedon (Glass
examine the society of the time. Aileen Dawson gave Manufacturers’ Federation), and Ada Polak (Deputy
the final talk on ‘Post-medieval French glass in the Curator in Britain of Arts and Crafts Museums of
British Museum’, in which some beautiful pieces Norway).
were shown and described.
Membership was initially restricted by the maximum
The AHG study day was wonderfully put together by number (16) cited in the formal Memorandum and
St John Simpson of the British Museum. As an Articles of Association, and the Membership and
undergraduate student studying archaeological Board were identical. However in the 1990s the Board
sciences this provided a very useful and wide decided to reinvigorate the Association, the first
introduction to the study of glass. My personal
highlights were the talks given on the Lycurgus cup, 11

Glass News 25 January 2009

visible signs being the founding of Glass News in 1900’.
1996. Its success, and that of the more regular series 2003 ‘Glass in the Islamic world: New Discoveries,
of study days, encouraged the Board to consider ways New Ideas’, and AIHV 16th Congress, and ‘Shape &
of expanding the membership. In 2000 agreement was Substance: Replicating Early Glass Making
reached with Companies House and the Charity Technologies’.
Commissioners to amendments to the Memorandum 2004 ‘The Archaeology of the Post-Medieval Urban
and Articles of Association, including an increase in Glass Industry’, and ‘Creativity in Glass History and
the maximum number of members to 300. In 2001 Heritage’, and ‘New Light on Old Glass: Collections,
individual subscribers to Glass News were invited to Analysis and Archaeology’.
become members of the Association, to nominate 2005 ‘Glass and Lighting in Antiquity and the
Board members and officers and to vote at AGMs Medieval World’, and ‘Glass in Cambridge
subject to the legal undertaking to pay a sum of up to Museums’.
£5 to meet any debts should the Association, as a 2006 ‘Glass of the Roman Empire and Elsewhere’,
Company Limited by Guarantee, be wound up. and ‘Experimental and Ethnographic Studies relating
to Ancient Glass’.
To date the Association has had four Presidents: Hugh 2007 ‘The Glass Industry: Constraints and Controls
Tait (1978-1996), Jennifer Price (1996-2003), Ian from the Medieval World to the C20th’, and ‘Glass in
Freestone (2003-7) and Caroline Jackson (2007-), Architecture’.
under whose guidance the Association has steadily 2008 ‘Buying and Selling Glass in Britain 1600 –
increased its charitable activities. Other serving 1950’, and ‘Glass at The British Museum: Current
officers include Secretaries: Dorothy Charlesworth Research, Science and Conservation’.
(1979-1981), Donald Harden (1981-3), Charles
Truman (1983-5), Suzanne Gaynor [Higgott] (1985- One of the early meetings held in 1992 ‘Medieval
1990), Paddy Baker (1990-1996), Justine Bayley Glass from British Sites’ led to AHG publishing a
(1996-2006) and Sandra Davison (2006-), as well as small booklet: Tyson, R and Clark, J Bibliography of
Treasurers: Keith Davey (1979-1996), David Crossley Medieval Glass Vessels from British Sites AD 1200-
(1996-2005), Andrew Shortland (2005-8) and Jim 1500 (1994). More recent study days also have given
Smedley (2008-) and Membership Secretaries: John rise to publications: J. Price (ed.). Glass in Britain
Clark (1996-2008) and Jim Smedley (2008-). and Ireland, AD 350-1100. British Museum
Occasional Paper No. 12, and the forthcoming
The relationship between the AIHV and AHG has volume, Glass of the Roman Empire (eds. I.
remained close. Hugh Tait (1977-9) and Jennifer Freestone, J. Bayley and C. Jackson) [in honour of
Price (1998-2003) were also Presidents of AIHV; Jennifer Price]. The Annales du 16e Congrès de
AHG Board member Reino Liefkes was the Treasurer l’Association Internationale pour l’Histoire du Verre
of AIHV (1991-5) and AHG Board member Hilary 2003 (ed. H. Cool) was published in 2005.
Cool (1999-2003) was Secretary General of AIHV
(2000-4). In 2003 the Association organized and ran In early 1996 the AHG published its first newsletter,
its second AIHV Congress, the 16th, held in London. Glass News, to publicise research, events and
meetings related to glass. To assess interest in a
The principal aim of the Association remains ‘The newsletter, over a thousand free copies were mailed to
advancement of public education in the a wide ranging of individuals and institutions, inviting
archaeological, historical, aesthetic and technological recipients to subscribe for a further three issues over
study of glass, for all periods of history and all parts the next two years. The first few issues of Glass
of the world, together with the problems of News, edited by John Shepherd, were published
conservation and presentation’. Since 1979 the irregularly, but subsequent issues edited by Juanita
Association has continued to hold meetings relating to Navarro and Sarah Paynter, have appeared twice
aspects of glass history, initially at irregular intervals, yearly, around January and July. The newsletter aims
but from 2003 biannual study days have been held to continue providing a forum for the exchange of
each Spring and Autumn generally, but not ideas and information in this diverse field. Initially a
exclusively, in London: subscription to Glass News had been for four issues at
a time, whenever they appeared. In 2007 this
2000 ‘Lead crystal glass in the C17th and C18th’. confusing practice was replaced by a simple annual
2001 ‘Two Thousand Years of Window Glass and subscription, and now the majority of Glass News
Glazing’. subscribers are full members of AHG (currently 137
2002 ‘Glass Supply & Use in London from c.1400 – out of 163). Most members and subscribers are UK-

Glass News 25 January 2009 12

based but Europe and the USA are well represented. collections from the 15th century to the present day,
About half have been subscribing regularly ever since allowing some of the best pieces to go on display.
Glass News first appeared in 1996. The collection consists mainly of English wares. Most
of these are 18th century drinking glasses, and include
In 2001 Hilary Cool (AIHV General Secretary and fine representative examples, the earliest dating from
AHG Board member) created an AHG website: the 1720s. In addition there are a few 19th century
<www.historyofglass.org.uk>. It was used to wares, a few continental Art Nouveau and Art Deco
publicise the 2003 AIHV Congress and has since been vases, and a few examples of high quality late 20th
developed as an introduction to the Association for century British studio glass, including works by Steve
members and non-members alike and to complement Newell, David Reekie, Alison Kinnaird and Colin
the information carried in Glass News: details of Reid. Specialities of particular significance to the
AHG activities, board, membership, funding and links county include two rare 18th century decanters
to glass-related sites. Board member David Martlew probably decorated in Norwich, a good collection of
subsequently undertook a great deal of work on the the so-called 'Lynn glass', and some fine pieces
website; Mike Cooper of Sheffield University is the decorated by William Absolon of Yarmouth.
current webmaster.
Important recent acquisitions include a green glass
To increase the charitable activities of the committee rummer decorated in gilt and black enamel by
and to further education in the study of glass, since Absolon (see Figure 1). It bears the coat of arms of
2006 the AHG has offered bursaries and grants Baron Nelson of the Nile. Nelson landed in Yarmouth
towards the funding of glass education, research and in 1800 after the Battle of the Nile and, according to a
publication. Three awards were made in 2006, two in contemporary source: A Perlustration of Yarmouth
2007 and four in 2008. These grants have been put (CJ Palmer, Vol. 1 p. 227) 'Mr Absolon presented the
towards a wide range of uses, including travel (for hero with two glasses of local manufacture'.
example see GN 23 and this issue pages 4-5),
experimental archaeology (see GN’s 18, 20 and this This glass is considered to be one of that pair. The
issue), purchasing archives (see GN 23) and form of the crest confirms this likelihood. Nelson was
publications. created a Baron in 1798, but did not become a
Viscount until 1801. The glasses were made between
The files of historic papers held by past and present the conferring of his first honour and the second. It is
AHG officers are currently being amalgamated to relatively unusual for black to be used on one of
form an archive for the Association. This will Absolon's gold enamelled glasses, but this rummer
comprise a full set of Glass News, minutes of bears close stylistic resemblance to a signed glass in
meetings of the Board of Management and annual the Norfolk Museum and Archaeology Services
general meetings, details of study days and AIHV collections at Yarmouth, confirming the attribution
congresses, bursaries and grants awarded, copies of beyond doubt.
the Annual Returns to Companies House and the
Charities Commissioners and miscellaneous The style is also similar to our most recent glass
correspondence. It has yet to be decided where the acquisitions, which are of equally great historical
archive will be housed. interest. We have acquired a group of 11 dark green
glasses in three different shapes and sizes. There are
New Acquisition: seven small and three larger wine glasses and one
square-footed rummer. One has a complete signature
Norwich Castle Museum & in gilt under the foot comprising the words 'Absolon
Art Gallery Yarm', in his characteristic script. There are traces of
gilded signatures under 3 other glasses. All are
The glass collection at Norwich Castle Museum & decorated in gilt and black enamel with a coronet
Art Gallery contains more than 600 items. At present motif and the inscription 'Joy and Health to
it is in storage, though all of it is accessible, and can Cornwallis Where Ever he Goes'.
be viewed by appointment on any weekday. This
autumn, a new gallery is due to open, entitled The Charles Cornwallis (1738-1805) was from Brome
Arts of Living. This will showcase the decorative arts Hall, at Eye on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. He was
famous both as a military commander and a colonial
Glass News 25 January 2009 governor. In 1789 he was appointed Governor-
General of India. In 1792 he achieved his most

13

notable victory against Tipu Sultan, the powerful prominent family, indicates the esteem in which
sultan of Mysore, when he captured his capital Absolon was held by his contemporaries. This adds to
Seringapatam. This paved the way towards British our knowledge of Absolon, concerning whom
dominance in Southern India. He was made a scholarship is not extensive. It is also of great interest
marquess as reward for this victory. The coronet and that if, as seems likely, these glasses can be dated to c.
the inscription on these glasses make it most likely 1792-3, they are very early examples of signed works
that they were commissioned by or for the Cornwallis decorated with gilding as opposed to engraving.
family to celebrate his marquisate, and/or his return to According to David Stuart, whose research is the most
England following the Indian victory. This gives them detailed so far (Glass in Norfolk, 1997, p. 13) no
a most likely date of 1792-3. datable gilded glass is known prior to 1800.

Figure 1: the green glass rummer, courtesy of Norfolk Dr Francesca Vanke
Museums and Archaeology Service [[email protected]]
The odd numbers indicate there were more in the set
originally. However, it is very rare to find such a large Roman Glassmakers
number surviving. A matching set of Absolon's
glasses consisting of more than a pair is not known to Glassblowing lessons and
exist anywhere else, making this an important find. demonstrations
They complement our existing holdings, especially as
they are obviously individually commissioned pieces, If you have ever fancied trying your hand at
as opposed to stock commemorative items. The glassblowing, the Roman Glassmakers are now
glasses have come down through descent via branches offering glassblowing lessons for beginners. These
of the Cornwallis family. They have remained in the will begin in February 2009, but may be pre-booked
Eye area of Suffolk, and never been sold until now. from November 2008. The lessons will cover basic
The fact that he was commissioned by, or for, such a techniques, utilising the glassblower’s chair and
working with a modern hand-working glass, and will
be for one or two persons at a time, during weekdays
or at weekends. They are also offering glassblowing
demonstrations for groups of up to 25 people, as well
as more in-depth sessions for small groups of
students.

In addition, Mark and David’s furnaces reach up to
1400°C, so contact them if you need help with high
temperature experimental work. For more
information, or to book demonstrations or lessons,
telephone 01264 889688, e-mail:
[[email protected]]or visit the
website for further information, including prices.
<www.romanglassmakers.co.uk>.

Patricia Lesley Baker

(1942-2008)

Dr Patricia Lesley Baker, known everywhere as
Paddy, died from cancer on 26th August this year. She
lectured on glass at the College of Art and Design at
Farnham for some time and for many years was
involved in various organisations with interests in

Glass News 25 January 2009 14

glass studies such as the Glass Circle and the Glass disciplines. Her principal research interests were
Association, as well as the Association for the History centred in the world of Islamic art, and she wrote and
of Glass. She joined the board in 1990, immediately edited several books in this field. She was also widely
becoming honorary secretary, and after stepping down known in Asia, from Syria to China, where she
from this office in 1996, continued to be an active travelled for many years as a researcher, leader of
board member until she resigned in 2006. cultural tours and writer of travel guides. As a rule,
her different worlds seem to have overlapped very
Paddy Baker at the Antiquaries on 17 March 2008 little, though she sometimes demonstrated a
(Juanita Navarro) remarkable depth of knowledge on an obscure topic,
as happened when she knew precisely how to
Paddy organised and contributed to AHG activities negotiate the Foreign Office procedures to enable an
over three decades, and the diversity of these events Uzbekistani glass scholar to obtain a visa to attend the
demonstrates some of the range of her glass interests. international glass congress organised by AHG in
In the 1980s, before joining AHG, she organised, with London in 2003. Paddy was a slight and distinctly
Ray Flavell, a practically-based study weekend on impressive person with an air of elegance and energy.
Glass of the Renaissance at Farnham. As honorary She had a rather cynical view of the world, a wealth
secretary she played an important part in arranging a of good ideas, a certain stubbornness and forthright
very successful, though slightly chaotic, study opinions on all sorts of issues. She was good company
weekend at the Edinburgh College of Art in 1992. and good-humoured, though some of us will
There, Ray Flavell was joined by Bill Gudenrath to remember with amusement her complete exasperation
demonstrate a wide range of glassworking techniques when the enthusiasm of the experimenters at the 1992
used over 5000 years, the practical sessions being meeting in Edinburgh caused the practical
complemented by lectures on aspects of glassworking sessions to over-run, with the result that
archaeological, historical and scientific evidence. She there was no time for her to present her own paper!
was also involved in a meeting on Islamic Gilded and She will not be readily forgotten.
Enamelled Glass which was held in the British
Museum in 1995. More recently, she organised Jenny Price and Justine Bayley
further AHG study days, on Glass in the Islamic
World in 2003, and on Constraints and Controls in the Ralph Pinder-Wilson
Glass Industry from the Medieval World to the 20th
century in 2007. (1919-2008)

Since her death, it has become apparent that Paddy Ralph Pinder-Wilson was an expert in many aspects
was an extremely private person who was deeply of early Islamic art, including glass. His
involved in numerous projects and was admired and accomplishments included 27 years as an assistant
respected by friends and colleagues in many and deputy keeper at the British Museum, the
directorship of the British institute of Afghan Studies
Glass News 25 January 2009 (BIAS), and an impressive list of publications. Born
in Wimbledon, Ralph (pronounced Rafe) was elected
Westminster Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, in
1937. On the outbreak of World War II, he was
posted to India, where he learned Urdu – the first of
several Oriental languages he mastered. After India,
he served in several Mediterranean countries, ending
the war with the rank of captain.

Ralph returned to Oxford to study Arabic and Persian.
He graduated in 1949 and joined the Department of
Oriental Antiquities at the British Museum. He
remained at the BM until 1976. During these years he
published extensively in fields as diverse as the
history of Islamic painting, ceramics and metalwork.

15

He also took part in excavations at Harran, Siraf and 1998 “Polychrome Decoration on Glass from
Fustat (Old Cairo) and was appointed to a fellowship Khurasan,” Gilded and Enamelled Glass from the
at All Souls. In 1976 Ralph became director of BIAS. Middle East, Rachel Ward, ed., London: British
His successes in Kabul included the restoration of the Museum Press, pp. 12-14.
Buddhist stupa at Guldara and studies of Ghaznavid 2001 (with George T. Scanlon) Fustat Glass of the
and Ghurid architecture. Ralph’s tenure, however, Early Islamic Period: Finds Excavated by The
ended unhappily. Following the Soviet invasion of American Research Center in Egypt, 1964-1980,
Afghanistan, the institute was closed and Ralph was London: Altajir World of Islam Trust.
imprisoned temporarily on a trumped-up charge.
After his release, Ralph returned to enjoy a busy Books and Publications
“retirement” in the UK, including joining the AHG
board from 1990 to 1997. His friends and colleagues Glass of the Alchemists
remember him as a generous, gentle man, who was
devoted equally to the art of the Islamic world and the Dedo von Kerssenbrock-Krosigk and
welfare of those around him. Ralph’s contribution to contributing authors
our knowledge of early Islamic glass included the
definitive catalogue of glass found during excavations The introduction of the book may be viewed at:
at Fustat (Old Cairo) between 1964 and 1980, co- <http://www.cmog.org/usr/media/glass_of_the_alche
authored with the director of the dig, George T. mists_intro_contents.pdf>
Scanlon, and published in 2001. This and Ralph’s
other publications on glass are listed below. The Corning Museum of Glass
357 pages, 236 colour, 16 b/w illus., 2008.
David Whitehouse ISBN: 978-0-87290-169-8
Available from <http://glassmarket.cmog.org>, US
1960 “A Hedwig Glass for the Museum,” British $59.95 plus postage.
Museum Quarterly, v. 22, nos. 1-2, pp. 43-45.
1962 “A Glass Huqqa Bowl,” British Museum This book was written to accompany the exhibition
Quarterly, v. 25, pp. 91-94. ‘Glass of the Alchemists: Lead Crystal – Gold Ruby,
1963 “Cut-Glass Vessels from Persia and 1650-1750’ at The Corning Museum of Glass,
Mesopotamia,” British Museum Quarterly, v. 27, nos. Corning, New York (exhibition closes on 4 January
1-2, pp. 33-39. 2009).
1964 “Syrian Glass. Mediaeval Period,” Bulletin des
Journées Internationales du Verre, no. 3, pp. 24-29. The author begins the Introduction by asking ‘What is
1968 “Pre-Islamic Persian and Mesopotamian, Glass?’ as we embark on a (mostly) European journey
Islamic and Chinese,” in D. B. Harden, K. S. Painter, into the world of the alchemists: secret recipes,
R. H. Pinder-Wilson, and Hugh Tait, Masterpieces of fabulous claims by misleading charlatans who
Glass, London: The Trustees of the British Museum, pretended they could transform metals into gold,
pp. 98-126. people like Johann Kunckel who exposed them and
1970 “Glass in China during the T’ang Period,” the exciting developments of glass technology, such
Pottery and Metalwork in T’ang China, Colloquies on as gold ruby glass. Many of the glass discoveries we
Art and Archaeology in Asia, no. 1, William Watson, take for granted today happened thanks to the
ed., London: University of London, pp. 62-71. alchemists’ experiments.
1973 (With George T. Scanlon) “Glass Finds from
Fustat: 1964-1971,” Journal of Glass Studies, v. 15, The first part of the book consists of eight fully
pp. 12-30. illustrated essays: ‘Alchemy as the Imitation of
1975 “Glass” and (with Waffiya Ezzy) catalog entries Nature’, Pamela H. Smith; ‘What Alchemists Knew:
117-144, in Dalu Jones and George Michell, ed., The Early Modern Chymistry’, William R. Newman;
Arts of Islam, London: The Arts Council of Great ‘Depicting Alchemy: Illustrations from Antonio
Britain, pp. 131-146. Neri’s 1599 Manuscript’, Paul Engle; ‘Itineraries of
1987 (with George T. Scanlon) “Glass Finds from Glass Innovation: Johann Rudolph Glauber and his
Fustat: 1972-1980,” Journal of Glass Studies, v. 29, Followers’, Werner Loibl; ‘Late 17th-Century
pp. 60-71.
1991 “The Islamic Lands and China,” Five Thousand 16
Years of Glass, Hugh Tait, ed., London: British
Museum Press, pp. 112-143.

Glass News 25 January 2009

Changes in Bohemian Glassmaking’, Olga This book takes us on an intense glass-based journey
Drahotová; ‘Johann Joachim Becher and the through time and technological advances. Yes, it is
Beginnings of Baroque Glassmaking in Central luxurious and beautiful to look at.Yes, it is absorbing
Europe’, Martin Mádl; ‘Vitrum Saturni: Lead Glass in to study large images. However, on a practical level I
Britain’, Colin Brain and ‘Gold Ruby Glass’, Dedo would like to make a general plea for smaller
von Kerssenbrock-Krosigk. exhibition catalogues. This tome is unnecessarily
large and very heavy; there is a lot of blank space. It
The second and largest section of the book comprises is not only important to use resources efficiently, but
the exhibition catalogue. A few alchemists’ glass the book would be easier to handle and it would not
‘tools’ set the scene, such as an alembic, retorts, a take up so much space in bookshelves, or indeed in
mortar and pestle. Travelling via the medicinal your suitcase, if you were lucky enough to buy it after
albarelli and others, we are taken swiftly on to the visiting the exhibition.
core of the exhibition, the more luxurious examples
reflecting the technological achievements. Not Juanita Navarro
surprisingly, the exhibition comprises a large
selection of goblets, beakers and other vessel glass Maintaining Traditional Plain Glass
including over 30 gold ruby glass items, many of and Glazing
which are exquisitely engraved. Each object has been
photographed in colour with astonishing sharpness, Historic Scotland ‘Inform’ Guides
and sometimes includes a view from another side or
close-up views. After the basic information and These free leaflets are available from:
description there is generally a comment, which Historic Scotland Technical Conservation
includes useful references to other similar or relevant Research and Education Group
objects as well as the condition of the object with Conservation Bureau and Technical Enquiry Service
references to glass instability (e.g. the presence or Longmore House, Salisbury Place
absence of crizzling). Except for common terms in Edinburgh EH9 1SH
very current use, original terms or techniques are Tel 0131 668 8668
generally written in their original language and Email: [[email protected]]
accompanied with a very useful, and educational,
English translation. Alternatively PDF files may be downloaded from
<www.historic-scotland.gov.uk>!
The final short section ‘The “Alchemy” of Glass Free Publications !
Today’ contains seven short texts by eminent Conservation, repair and maintenance!
scientists from Corning and elsewhere (Robert H. Inform guides.
Brill, Mary J. Edwards, Adam J. Ellison, Carol M.
Jantzen, Suresh T. Gulati, L. David Pye and Adrian C. Historic Scotland has produced several ‘Inform’
Wright). Nowadays glass technology serves the leaflets covering various aspects of ‘Information for
needs of our modern world: telescope mirrors, safe historic building owners’. Some have been updated.
storage of nuclear waste, nanotechnology, lead crystal The leaflets are clearly written and only 8 pages each,
displays. What would the original alchemists have hence concise. Readers may be interested in the
thought of the three eight-meter diameter mirror following:
blanks for ground-based telescopes made by Corning
at their Canton plant (New York)? The book comes DOMESTIC DECORATIVE GLASS
full circle as it returns to the initial ‘What is Glass?’
question. As more is required of the material, glass ‘… 19th and 20th Century domestic glass. The
continues to become more complex and a suitable purpose is to illustrate the types of domestic
definition continues to elude our current alchemists; decorative glass that are likely to be found, and
Prof. Adrian C. Wright explains why. There is a highlight other repair and maintenance issues.’
generous 20-page bibliography spanning several Published: July 2007.
centuries. The book closes with a useful concordance
page (accession number: catalogue number), brief
author’s bibliographies and the index.

Glass News 25 January 2009 17

MAINTAINING SASH AND CASE WINDOWS the 8th-9th century, a ribbed and trailed bowl perhaps
from London tentatively dated to the 12th century and
‘… window evolution, how sash and case windows glass objects in ninth-century hoards from Gravesend
work, assessing condition, common problems, and Trewhiddle in Cornwall. The majority of the
maintenance and repairs, energy efficiency…’ vessels and objects were found in graves, though a
Published: July 2007. few came from settlements such as Mucking in Essex
and Whitby Abbey, or hoards.
MAINTAINING TRADITIONAL PLAIN GLASS AND
GLAZING The three main parts to the book are the discussion
and catalogue, with a section on the composition and
‘… outline the types of traditional plain glass and production of early Anglo-Saxon glass. There are also
glazing systems most commonly encountered by four appendices, plus the bibliography, maps, line
building owners, and to give general guidance on their drawings, and half-tone and colour plates. The
maintenance and repair.’ Published: November 2007. introductory sections of the discussion cover
chronology, techniques of manufacture and
Juanita Navarro decoration, provenance, chemical analysis and glass
production in Anglo-Saxon England, followed by the
Catalogue of Anglo-Saxon Glass in the detailed investigation by type and period of the
British Museum vessels and objects in the collection, setting them in
their north west European context. The catalogue is
Vera I Evison also detailed, well laid out and easy to use.
Edited by Sonia Marzinzik, with contributions
from IC Freestone, MJ Hughes, CP Stapleton and The contribution by Freestone et al on composition
and production complements the work of the principal
DR Hook author and expands the scope of the volume by using
the results of analyses to create a model to explain the
British Museum Research Publication No. 167 (2008) limited numbers and range of forms, and the high
184 pages, colour and B/W illustrations status, of glass vessels in Anglo-Saxon England. It
summarises scientific research into the raw materials
ISBN 0978 0 86159 167 1. and technology of Roman and later glass as a preface
ISSN 1747-3640. to interpreting the analyses of 29 fifth-early sixth
century (Period 1) and late sixth-seventh century
Price £35 (Period 2) vessels which show differences in
composition between the two periods. In Period 1, a
It is very good to see this book in print. It is a natron glass comparable with contemporary vessels
landmark publication, both as an important addition to elsewhere in Europe as well as with glass from the
our knowledge of the subject and as a record of the Levant was used, suggesting that the glass was made
perseverance of the principal author who began her in the south-east Mediterranean region and traded
acquaintance with Anglo-Saxon glass in the British widely in Europe as raw material for production, as
Museum in 1947 and has studied it in detail over had also been the case in the late Roman period. By
many years since then. contrast, the majority of period 2 vessels contained
ash-rich material as well as natron, and as comparable
In the work, 229 pieces attributed to Anglo-Saxon material has not been identified elsewhere in Europe,
contexts dating from c. AD 400-1100 have been this is interpreted as indicating that disruption to
examined. These are predominantly vessels and trading networks prevented the raw glass made in the
fragments of vessels, with some beads, pendants, eastern Mediterranean from reaching north western
other objects and window glass. In fact, virtually all Europe in sufficient quantity, so local adulteration
of the material belongs to the fifth-seventh centuries, became necessary. The discussion of later Anglo-
the exceptions being vessel fragments and objects Saxon glass, based on analyses of glass not in the
from Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire dating from British Museum, argues that more emphasis on
recycling Roman glass is visible in the eighth-ninth
Glass News 25 January 2009 centuries and that by the ninth-tenth centuries the
change from natron- to ash-based glass was under
way in Britain.

18

The cultural affiliations of glass vessels in circulation This webpage, with nearly three hundred images in
at the end of the Roman period in Britain and also in all, has been constructed with the kind assistance of
Anglo-Saxon England are sometimes ambiguous, and many educators and institutions worldwide. Recent
a few vessels in this volume, despite being found in additions to the website include:
Anglo-Saxon contexts, may have been produced in
the late fourth century, as they have cracked-off rims • The Edward Scarlett Trade Card
and decorative details characteristic of late Roman • <http://www.antiquespectacles.com/trade_cards/s
glass. For example, nos 1, 2 and particularly 4 are
forms widely known in late Roman contexts, and the carlett/scarlett.htm> (This significant discovery
rim fragment (no 3) from hut 15 at Mucking is likely potentially moves the invention of hinged
to be a curated fragment of a late Roman beaker, sidearms for glasses back about 15 years).
perhaps similar in form to conical beakers nos 19 and • Baleen Spectacles
20. The claw beaker (no 57) from an early sixth- • <http://www.antiquespectacles.com/slide_shows/
century burial, Grave 843, at Mucking may also baleen/baleen.htm>
belong to this group, as it has a cracked off rim, • Objects Made of Horn
trailed decoration characteristic of the late fourth • <http://www.antiquespectacles.com/slide_shows/
century below the rim and between the claws on the horn/horn.htm>
body, and a separately blown foot with a cracked off • Optisches Museum, Jena
edge not noted on other claw beakers. • <http://www.antiquespectacles.com/topics/jena/je
na.htm>
The vessel glass discussion covers some of the same
ground as an earlier essay on glass vessels in Anglo- Our ongoing research project has resulted in an
Saxon England which is mentioned several times in educational website with more than 260 webpages
the text (Evison 2000b), but the research for this and over 4600 images.
volume has moved a long way beyond that work,
concentrating on the material in the British Museum, Additional topics, such as "Early Telescopes and their
setting it in context, and presenting it in an accessible Development" and others, will be added over the next
and scholarly format. The volume itself is attractively 3-5 years. Thank you for your interest and support.
produced, and all those involved in bringing it to
publication deserve congratulation. Dr. David Fleishman

Jennifer Price Bibliographical database

Website: Byzantine and Islamic Glass

Rivet Spectacles The first version of the bilingual (French/English)
bibliographical database on Byzantine and Islamic
A new webpage on rivet spectacles has been added to Glass is now available at:
‘The On-Line Museum and Encyclopedia of Vision <http://www.ifao.egnet.net/bases/verre>
Aids.’ Following their introduction at the end of the
13th century, the first simple eyeglasses were then This database is part of the "Objets d'Égypte"
used into the early 16th century. This is the first time scientific program realized by the French Institute of
that information and images of every known example the Oriental Studies in Cairo (IFAO). It systematically
(mostly fragments) have been assembled and reviews all relevant publications. The information
explained to an interested public. Five years of available includes technical issues dealing with glass
international collaborative research has resulted in as well as production and consumer centres; it allows
Rivet Spectacles - the Earliest Style cross-referencing and will be annually updated.
<http://www.antiquespectacles.com/rivet_spectacles/r
ivets.htm>.

Glass News 25 January 2009 19

Please send your contributions

for

Glass News No. 26

by

1st June 2009

to:

Sarah Paynter
Fort Cumberland,
Fort Cumberland Road

Eastney,
Portsmouth PO4 9LD

<[email protected]>

Glass News 25 January 2009 20

Glass Rachel Tyson. Rachel, a specialist in Medieval glass,
News is well known for her book on Medieval Glass
Vessels in England 1200-1500. She brings to the
Number 26 July 2009 newsletter not only an expertise in glass which will
complement that of Sarah, but also has experience of
Published by editing for the medieval Finds Research Group
newsletter. We welcome her warmly to the editing
THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE HISTORY OF GLASS LIMITED team and along with Sarah she is happy to receive any
contributions to future issues of Glass News – her
Reg’d Charity: 275236 ISSN 1362-5195 address is given at the back of this newsletter.

Registered Office: A subscription to Glass News including Membership
c/o The Society of Antiquaries of London of AHG has up to now been available at the bargain
price of £5 per year. At the last Board meeting it was
Burlington House, Piccadilly, decided that, due to increasing production and postage
London W1V 0HS, United Kingdom costs and the extra activity of the Association in study
days and grant awards, we need to raise the
Company Registration Number 1348828 subscription to £10 per year. The new rate, which we
feel is still a very fair price for everything AHG does,
www.historyofglass.org.uk will come into effect when you renew (as we hope
you will) for the year 2010.

IN THIS ISSUE THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE
HISTORY OF GLASS

Page 1 - Board members Board of Management

- AHG Spring Study Day 2010 President: Caroline Jackson

Page 2 - AHG Autumn Study Day 2009 Hon Secretary: Sandy Davison
- AIHV 18th International Congress
Hon Treasurer: Jim Smedley

Members of Board

Page 3 - Applying for AHG Grants Denise Allen Aileen Dawson Julia Poole

- 2009 SGT Annual Conference Justine Bayley Sarah Jennings Jennifer Price

Page 4 - AFAV Annual Meeting 2009 and 2010 Colin Brain David Martlew St John
- AHG Grant Report: 18th-century table
John Clark Martine Newby Simpson
glass in colonial Virginia David Crossley Sarah Paynter Angela Wardle

Page 5 - Charles Darwin Bicentenary

Page 6 - AHG Spring Study Day Review AHG Spring Study Day 2010

Page 8 - Broadfield House Glass Museum GLASS FOR VESSELS, GLASS FOR WINDOWS
MEDIEVAL GLASS 1066-1550
- Cecil Higgins Art gallery: Ravenscroft
Glass March 2010 (date and venue to be confirmed)

Page 9 - Thames Plate Glass Company Following increased research and general interest in
medieval glasses in recent years, this study day will
Page 12 - Book and publications bring together speakers looking at new excavations
and surveys of glass sites of the medieval period,
- Glossary of Mosaic Terms techniques of medieval glass production and
decoration, and specific case studies looking at
Page 16 - Editors’ Details medieval glass in context. More information will
follow in GN 27.
In the last issue of Glass News (25) we reported that Caroline Jackson [[email protected]]
Juanita Navarro, co-editor of Glass News with Sarah
Paynter had decided to stand down after many
successful years of a well produced and dynamic
newsletter. We also reported that Juanita’s shoes
would be hard to fill, but into the breach has stepped

Glass News 26 July 2009 1

AHG Autumn Study Day 2009 15.25 – 16.25 Session 4
Groups feed back their conclusions from looking at
‘INTERPRETING FINDS FROM GLASSHOUSE the material and contrasting the information from the
EXCAVATIONS’ Roman and the post-medieval sites, followed by a
general discussion and questions.
LAARC Saturday 7 November 2009 16.25 – 16.30 Close

Colin Brain, Angela Wardle and David Dungworth If you would like to attend, please send your full
contact details and a cheque for £25.00 (non-
The AHG Autumn study and AGM will be held at the members), £20 (AHG members), or £10.00 (students
London Archaeological Archive and Research Centre – proof required) payable to The Association for the
(LAARC) based at Mortimer Wheeler House in History of Glass Ltd to: Colin Brain, 10, College St,
Hackney. This study day will have a large practical Salisbury, Wilts SP1 3AL. Receipt by email or with
component, with the opportunity to handle an SAE. Participants who normally live outside the
glassworking finds, ranging from Roman to 17th UK may pay upon arrival at the venue in UK
century in date, as well as introductory presentations sterling). Members wishing to attend the AGM only
on glassworking structures, materials, tools and may do so free of charge.
practices for each period.
AIHV Triennial Meeting
09.30 – 10.00 Arrival & coffee
10.00 - 10.10 Introduction - Caroline Jackson 18th International Congress
10.10 - 11.05 Session 1
Introductory sessions on glassworking as it affects 21-25 September, 2009
urban glasshouse archaeology, with two Thessaloniki, Greece
presentations: one on the Roman period and the other
focused on the 17th century. Each will aim to cover The 18th Congress of the Association Internationale
the following topics relevant to London glasshouses: pour l’Histoire du Verre (AIHV) takes place in
- Structures, including locations, buildings, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, organized by the
Hellenic Committee of the AIHV and the Hellenic
furnaces and layouts Ministry of Culture - Archaeological Museum of
- Glass melting, including fuels, materials, melting Thessaloniki. Special attention will be given to Greek
glass from prehistory through to the Byzantine period.
pots, fritting
- Glass forming, including tools, processes and It is still possible to submit poster presentations and
details of the congress themes can be found on the
annealing website. All authors of abstracts must pay the
11.05 – 11.30 Coffee participation fee before June 30th, 2009.
11.30 – 12.30 Session 2
Groups of participants will examine and handle either DRAFT PROGRAMME
Roman glassworking finds from London or 17th
century finds. Each group will have at least one Sunday 20th
facilitator and will focus in particular on what the Evening – Registration and Opening Reception
material can tell us about the topics listed above. Monday 21st
am – Registration
12.30 – 14.00 Lunch (Lunch is not provided. Nearby am – Opening
cafes may have limited opening on All-day sessions:
Saturday) A. 2nd millennium BCE
B. Byzantine
13.30 AGM of the Association for the History of Tuesday 22nd
Glass (AHG members only) All-day sessions:
14.00 - 1500 Session 3 A. 1st millennium BCE
Repeat of Session 2 but with each group covering
material from the other period.
15.00 – 15.25 Tea

Glass News 26 July 2009 2

B. Byzantine, Islamic, Conservation AHG Grants
Early pm – Poster Session A
Wednesday 23rd Grants are available from the Association for the
Morning sessions: History of Glass for educational or research activities
A. Roman consistent with the Association’s charitable aims.
B. Post-Roman West These aims include, for example, attendance at a
pm – City visits conference to present a lecture or poster, a study visit,
Thursday 24th fieldwork or publication of scholarly works.
All-day sessions:
A. Roman There are no restrictions on who may apply or on the
B. Byzantine, Post Byzantine topics of applications, which will be judged on merit.
Early pm – Poster Session B Multiple applications in different years will be
Friday 25th considered with individual awards up to £500. See
All-day sessions: also the AHG website for details
A. Roman to Late Antiquity (www.historyofglass.org.uk).
B. Venetian / Façon de Venise, 18th and 19th
centuries, Asia, Africa Applications for a bursary application form should be
Early pm - General Assembly made to Sandy Davison, AHG Hon Secretary,
Late pm – Closing 68 East Street, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3JS
Evening – Farewell party Email: [[email protected]]
Saturday 26th
All day - 1st and 2nd Post-Congress Trip Society of Glass Technology
Sunday 27th
All day - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Post-Congress Trip Annual Conference 2009

Congress fees 16-18 September 2009
Members of the AIHV are entitled to a reduced University of Lancaster
congress fee and to one copy of the
proceedings. Information on how to become a The Society of Glass Technology’s Annual
member is available from <http://www.aihv.org/> Conference takes place in September with Friday 18th
Participation fees are as follows: September devoted to the History and Heritage of
AIHV member €290 Glass. Glass Science sessions will be held on
Non-member €330 Wednesday 16th (pm) and all day Thursday 17th.
Non-members from low-wage countries €150 Wednesday 16th will be dedicated to Glass
Students €150 Technology, with a works visit to Quinn Glass Elton
Accompanying person €150 Plant. The New Research Forum will also be held on
Wednesday 16th September.
(Please note grants are available from AHG. For more
information see opposite or the website More information will be added to the website as it
www.historyofglass.org.uk) becomes available:
<http://www.lancaster2009.sgthome.co.uk>
Information
The main source of information about the congress is History and Heritage of Glass Programme
the website <www.aghv.gr>. the second circular is Plenary Session:
available at 10.00am The invention of the float glass process:
<http://www.aghv.gr/pdf/2nd_CIRCULAR_Eng.pdf>
The mythology revisited - Dr David
All enquiries to the official congress secretariat: Bricknell, Manchester Metropolitan
SYMVOLI Conference & Event Organizers, University
[[email protected]] 10.40am Refreshments
Enquiries concerning scientific issues:
Dr Despina Ignatiadou [[email protected]], or
Dr Antonaras Anastassios [[email protected]]

Glass News 26 July 2009 3

11.00am One Family’s Journey in Bottlemaking - l’Archéologie du Verre will be held in Orléans,
11.40am Mr.P.J.Pearson on May 28th and 29th, 2010. Organised in association
Glass Colours at Marinha Grande by the with the Musée des Beaux-Art, the meeting will be
12.20am last quarter of the 18th century - Antonio devoted to current work on the archaeology,
Pires de Matos archaeometry and history of glass, in France and
1.00pm Conservation of Glass Objects: Two Case elsewhere, from Antiquity through to the Industrial
1.40pm Studies - Ms Dana Norris, Ashmolean period, with a special session devoted to Bernard
2.20pm Museum Perrot and Italian glassworkers.
3.00pm Lunch
3.40pm What is Glass? - Adrian Wright Booking is recommended, as soon as possible.
4.00pm Archaeology of glass furnaces - Ian Information and forms are also available on the
Miller website AFAVerre (www.afaverre.fr)
4.40pm Window Glass Manufacture 1500 to 1950
5.20pm - David Dungworth AHG Grant Reports
Refreshments
6.00pm The Savile Chapel window at Thornhill: 18TH-CENTURY TABLE GLASS IN COLONIAL
is there a case for the palliative care of VIRGINIA
geriatric glazing? - Ruth Cooke
Protective Glazing Systems for Ancient Hugh Willmott
Windows Keith Barley
The new MA course in stained glass The town of Williamsburg in Virginia was one of the
conservation at York University - Sarah most important early settlements in North America.
Brown Originally founded as Middle Plantation in the late
Close 17th century, it was renamed when the state capitol
was transferred there in 1698. Home of some of the
24th and 25th Annual Meetings leading political and social figures in early American
history, it played a pivotal role first as a prosperous
AFAV colonial settlement, but latterly as home to many of
the key figures of the War of Independence. In 1780
The 24th annual meeting of the Association Française the state capitol was again moved to Richmond, a
pour l'Archéologie du Verre (AFAV) will take place more secure location, and in the following decades
on the 20th and 21st November 2009 at Frejus, Cote Williamsburg faded from the limelight becoming a
d'Azur. The topic will be research into the history and small provincial town. During the 1920s John D
archaeology of glass, from Antiquity through to Rockefeller purchased most of the town with the
contemporary periods, in France and abroad. More intention of restoring it back to its 18th-century
information, as well as forms for submitting abstracts appearance, and since then excavations have taken
and registering by e-mail, is available from the place that reveal the full richness of Williamsburg’s
website at: <www.afaverre.fr> or <www.arkaeos.fr> historic past, and its unique collections of material
culture.
Visits around the venue will be organised in
collaboration with the Pôle archéologique du Var and Williamsburg is fortunate to possess a near unique
the Service archéologique de la Ville de Fréjus, and archaeological and historical resource. Due to its
will include opportunities to see collections of declining importance after the 1780s it never
archaeological glass, such as the cargo of the Embiez underwent the large scale 19th-century redevelopment
wreck and glass from excavations at Frejus. The that other early colonial towns experienced, and thus
Glassmakers of Biot will also host a half-day visit of many of its archaeological deposits remained
the glassmakers market, l’Ecomusée du verre undisturbed. Furthermore, documentary accounts,
(archaeological and historical glass) and of the probate records and household inventories survive for
Galerie Internationale du Verre Serge Lechaczynski most of the 18th-century town, allowing the attribution
(contemporary creations of international artists). of archaeological deposits to not only recorded
household plots but in many cases known individuals
The 25th Meeting of the Association Française pour and businesses.

Glass News 26 July 2009 4

Many readers of Glass News will no doubt be familiar In its first phase, the study has concentrated on
with Ivor Noël Hume’s 1969 Glass in Colonial cataloguing, drawing and photographing the five
Williamsburg’s Archaeological Collections, an largest and best-dated assemblages, which together
informative and incisive overview of glass that had include a minimum number of nearly 500 vessels.
been found up until that date. Although the impressive These groups come from a variety of households and
collection of bottle glass at Williamsburg has businesses. The largest is perhaps the best known,
subsequently received some of the attention it being 162 glasses from Wetherburn’s tavern, a site
deserves, since Noël Hume’s publication no in-depth excavated in 1965. As well as the large number of
archaeological study of the table glass had been stemmed wares and tumblers that might be expected
undertaken. With the generous aid of an AHG for a such a business, the tavern also produced a
Research Grant, the author travelled to Williamsburg varied collection of jelly glasses, as well as bowls,
earlier this year to start the first stage of a new footed salvers, and a candelabra arm. A second
comprehensive study of the 18th-century tablewares. commercial group examined came from Richard
The aim of this project is to not only record the Charlton’s coffee shop, one of the most recently
individual vessels so that a better understanding of the excavated properties in Williamsburg. This
archaeological range and date of forms can be assemblage included nearly ninety individual vessels,
achieved, but also to undertake a comparative analysis the most common of which were wine glasses with
of consumption patterns between the various plain drawn or air twisted stems. The largest domestic
households. group comes from the household of Anthony Hay one
of the town cabinetmakers operating between 1751-
67. This family, as well as using a large number of
wine glasses and tumblers, also discarded a range of
other vessels including decanters, handled mugs and
footed salvers. Slightly earlier in date is an
assemblage of sixty vessels belonging to the family of
James Geddy the town gunsmith and brass founder,
which also contained a wide range of drinking
vessels. Perhaps the most interesting deposit consists
of thirty-nine wine glasses, tumblers, jellies and mugs
belonging to John Custis the father-in-law of the
future Martha Washington. Most of the glasses were
found in an almost complete state at the bottom of a
well (see figure to the left), probably as the result of a
household clearance following the death of Custis in
1759.

Analysis of this material has only just begun, and
there are other equally important groups that still
require recording. However, once this work has been
finished not only will the full range of table glass
being used in 18th-century Virginia be apparent,
interesting questions concerning the use and discard
of glass in a colonial setting shall be explored.

Goblet with moulded stem (155mm in height): one of The Charles Darwin Bicentenary
the 18th-century glasses belonging to John Custis
Don Tyzack
Glass News 26 July 2009 We shouldn’t allow the Charles Darwin’s Bicentenary
and the Sesquicentennial anniversary of his book pass
without recording the connection that exists between
him and glass! Darwin and his family lived for for 40

5

years at Down House, and it was here he researched he dictated most of the will, for example :- “And he
and wrote On the Origin of Species. Less widely saieth that on the last daie of Maye One thousand sixe
known is that Jacob Verselini, the Elizabethan glass hundred and fower and in the fforenoone this
monopolist, was a previous owner of Down House. deponent was sent for to his howse in the Crutched
ffreers London to be a Wittnes.”
Recently while in the archives at Guildford I came
across an original copy of the will of Jacob Verselini. The will starts off with £20 for a marble gravestone to
Quite a bulky document, when it finally came up from be engraved with pictures of himself and his wife.
the vault. Seven skins! After I had painstakingly read Such a gravestone still exists. His eldest son Franncis
and transcribed it into my word-processor it amounted seems to have blotted his copybook; his problems are
to ten thousand words. Clearly the scribe of 1604, one not revealed but he only gets a couple of Annuities
William ffrith, was paid by the word! He never wrote worth about £60 per year. The will shows that
any word once if he could find some way of repeating Verselini did not trust Franncis at all but Jacob, his
it. I read through it hoping to find something about younger son did quite well out of the will. Verselini
Verselini’s glass business. was at pains to work out the subsequent inheritance of
his various bequests after the death of each original
Verselini lived in London in 1571. Jean Carré, a beneficiary. He always sought to nominate an
native of Arras, had arrived in London in 1567 and set alternative beneficiary if the first issue failed to
up glass works to fulfil his monopoly from Queen survive. After the death of his wife, and then of her
Elizabeth, at the Priory of Crutched Friars. Jacob subsequent inheritors, there are detailed sequences
Verselini took over the works in 1572 after the death listing seven or eight successive outcomes.
of Jean Carré. The transfer was probably due to the
fact that Verselini had the fashionable technique of I don’t know whether Verselini’s attempt to second
making glasses in cristallo. So on 15 December 1574 guess the future succeeded but the affairs of Downe
Verselini was granted a patent for twenty-one years, Manor were the subject of much litigation for the next
which prohibited others from manufacturing fifty years or more after Verselini’s death. After his
Venetian-style (cristallo) glass. Verselini could make wife’s death the Downe property went to his second
"drynkyne glasses such as be accustomable in the son Jacob as provided in the will but, in 1614, son
town of Murano". The monopoly required him to Jacob leased it to Jacob Manning the grandson of
teach his craft to Englishmen, which he never did. His Verselini. Now under the will, because son Jacob died
manufactory was burn down and rebuilt in 1575 and childless, the property should have gone to Marie,
he then moved the works to Winchester House, Broad Verselini’s daughter and her husband, the grocer
Street. He is said to have retired in 1592, before his Michael Palmer, who were already living in Downe
patent expired, and died in 1607. Court. By 1646 Thomas, the son of Jacob Manning,
went to court claiming that his father was in
By the time of his death Jacob Verselini was a possession of the property when he died in 1621.
wealthy man. Most of his wealth was in property Litigation continued until 1652 when the manor
around the Manor of Downe in Kent. His principal seems to have come back into the Palmer’s hands.
house was the Downe House later to be lived in by
Charles Darwin. In a book called “Down: The Home So after ten thousand words, in an Elizabethan
of the Darwins”, it is said that Verselini bought Down secretary hand, and interminable legal jargon, I found
from Henry Manning, Knight Marshal of the nothing at all about glass. If it had not been for the
Household under Henry VIII, when Manning left for mention of the Crutched Freers I might have begun
Greenwich in 1560. Verselini’s own will contradicts to wonder whether I had found the right will.
that. It says he bought it from John and Simon
Smythe. (In any case the 1560 date seems too early Down House became the home of Charles Darwin
because Verselini was in Antwerp in 1566 marrying from 1842 till his death in 1882. Here Darwin worked
Elizabeth Vanburen. Verzelini took over the Crutched on his scientific theories and wrote “On the Origin of
Friars glassworks in 1572 after the death of Jean Species” – the book which both scandalised and
Carré, when he was granted the patent that made him revolutionised the Victorian World when published in
wealthy). 1859. Downe House was used as a girls’ boarding
school from 1907 until 1922 and was acquired by the
Although Verselini owned several properties in and Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1953. The
around Downe, even right up to the end he apparently ground floor of the house became a museum
preferred to live in London. We find him there when dedicated to Darwin, and Sir Hedley Atkins moved

Glass News 26 July 2009 6

into the upper floor - he was the honorary curator of understanding of the Wealden glass industry from the
the museum. 13th century onwards. Colin Brain’s subject was A
17th-century Dublin crystal glasshouse
A copy of the full Verselini will can be found at:- encompassing many aspects of the process for
<http://www.tyzack.net/verselini.htm> producing lead crystal, including the raw materials,
More information and another copy of the will is at:- pot clay and fuel used. David returned to finish the
http://www.antiquecolouredglass.info/verzelini.htm>. morning session with a summary of New work on
More information on Down House is available at: residues from urban glassworks excavations. His
<http://www.english- presentation demonstrated the benefits of applying
heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.14922> scientific techniques to artefacts and residues from
glassworking sites using a number of larger post-
Review: medieval sites as examples. Like the first presentation
of the day, this talk included some useful descriptions
AHG Spring 2009 Study Day of diagnostic glassworking waste from different
processes.
Sarah Paynter
The afternoon focused on the archaeological remains
The AHG spring study day, held in March in the of the later glass industry, with cone bases and flues
sumptuous surroundings of the Wallace Collection, abounding. Many of the presentations shared a similar
London, was on the theme ‘Recent Archaeological theme, attempting to establish the extent of this
research into the manufacture of glass in the British vanishing archaeological resource in different areas,
Isles’. This was guaranteed to appeal to many, as and then how best to manage, investigate and record
there were a scattering of archaeological and remains. Peter Bone, described A survey of the glass
archaeometrical presentations covering a broad time industry in Manchester and Salford, to characterise
span. the companies involved, identify the glass-working
sites, and record them on the Greater Manchester
John Shepherd (Islington Heritage Services) started HER. In a similar vein, Mike Hodder described how
proceedings with The earliest glassworking in the below ground survival of several recently
Roman London. This fascinating journey through excavated Birmingham glassworks would influence
several centuries described glassworking debris from the approach to such sites in future and Ray Holt
various areas in London. John touched on sampling presented Excavations at the site of the Walsh
strategies and included pictures of different types of Walsh glass works at Lodge Road, Birmingham.
glassworking waste, discussing how they were Ian Miller spoke on A regenerative revolution: the
formed, which was especially enlightening. Richard adoption of Siemens’ furnace technology at the
Campbell followed with Romano-British glass Powell and Ricketts glass works, Bristol, and Pete
working waste from Thearne, near Hull, describing Boland on Recent work on the archaeology of the
over 180 pieces of Romano-British glass including Dudley and Stourbridge glass industry. There was
fragments of vessels, bangles and twisted cords. Jerzy sufficient evidence at some of these sites to not only
Kunicki-Goldfinger presented an interesting paper co- identify structures, but to speculate about the
authored with Ian Freestone on the Compositional processes taking place, enabling more in depth
investigation of the glass of John Thornton, glazier discussions encompassing the impact of the evolving
of the Great Window of York Minster. Glass from technologies on the industry and those involved with
three windows of York Minster was analysed and the it. Finally Anne Mortimer vividly described the
results showed differences in composition associated excavation of the 19th / 20th-century Hightown
with varying date and colour, which will no doubt Glassworks in Bottles, Bricks and Prohibition - the
lead to some intriguing theories on the production and extraordinary site of Hightown Glassworks,
trade of window glass. Castleford, West Yorkshire. The scale and
complexity of the site were astonishing and work on
David Dungworth, in his first appearance of the day, the glass recovered continues.
provided a taster of New field work on the glass
industry of the Weald, which will be undertaken by The day was very enjoyable and served as a useful
the Surrey Archaeological Unit (funded by English grounding for the forthcoming autumn study day,
Heritage), plus a succinct overview of current when there will be an opportunity to handle
glassworking waste of different periods - more details
Glass News 26 July 2009 can be found on page 2.

7

Broadfield House Glass in the bequest, the collection has grown to include an
Museum internationally renowned watercolour and print
collection as well as one of the most important
Since the last issue of Glass News, there has been decorative art collections outside of London.
considerable publicity concerning Dudley Council’s In the 1930’s, when Cecil Higgins was in his
plans for Broadfield House Glass Museum. A seventies, he conceived the idea of forming a museum
summary of the press coverage can be found at the collection. With advice from Jim Kiddell, an assistant
Friends of Broadfield House Glass Museum website: director at Sotheby’s and a ceramics expert he set
<http://www.friendsofbroadfieldhouse.co.uk> about this task. Kiddell suggested names of dealers in
ceramics and furniture who could supply suitable
Award-winning Broadfield House Glass Museum is pieces and recommended a dealer, Cecil Davis to be
situated in the historic Stourbridge Glass Quarter and entrusted with sourcing the glass. Higgins’ ceramics
has a magnificent collection of British glass, much of collection totals over 1000 pieces and illustrates the
it made locally, dating from the 17th century up to the history of European ceramics from medieval times to
present day. A programme of events and temporary the early 19th century. The glass collection though
exhibitions compliment the glass displays and smaller (about 300 pieces) includes Venetian,
celebrate the magical art of glassmaking. There is also Renaissance, Jacobite and Anti Jacobite glass, as well
a glassmaking studio on site where visitors can watch as an outstanding collection of over 20 pieces of late
and wonder at the glassblowers' skills. Admission to 17th-century English glass.
the Glass Museum is free. Buying from private collections and auctions, Higgins
was lucky to be collecting in a period when many
The Council reports that it is exploring the feasibility important collections were being dispersed and could
of amalgamating its two glass heritage facilities (one be bought at relatively low prices. One such sale was
of which is Broadfield House). The practicalities of the Kirkby Mason sale at Sotheby’s in 1929. C
doing this and the costs and timescale involved are to Kirkby Mason, a travelling salesman, though not well
be the subjects of a comprehensive feasibility study. off had made up for his lack of funds by obsessional
The progress of the feasibility study, and also a list of searching. The sale contained much early glass,
frequently asked questions, can be accessed via the including two sealed Ravenscroft pieces: a bowl and
website at: <http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and- helmet jug as well as an unsealed jug all acquired by
culture/museums--galleries/glass-museum/broadfield- Higgins.
house-feasibility-study>
8
Cecil Higgins Art Gallery

Ravenscroft Glass

Victoria Partridge

In 1676, George Ravenscroft was authorised by the
Glass Sellers Company to impress a seal on his work.
This first seal was probably plain, but by May or June
1677 he started to mark his work with a seal bearing a
raven’s head. There is no record of the number of
pieces which were marked by the seal but it is known
that only about twenty intact pieces exist today, two
of which are in the Cecil Higgins Collection.

The Bedford brewer Cecil Higgins, on his death in
1941, left his collection of ceramics, glass and objets
d’art to the town “for the benefit, interest and
education of the inhabitants and of visitors to
Bedford”. Through the generous endowment included

Glass News 26 July 2009

The helmet jug (G.8) (see the picture on page 8) is Thames Plate Glass Company
dated about 1676 -1678 and has the Raven seal on the
handle; it is almost identical to an unsealed jug in the David Dungworth
V&A. The bowl (G.9), similar to two in the V&A
dates from 1676 and has a gadrooned flared bowl with Plate Glass manufacturing technology had been
the raven’s head between two gadroons. The unsealed introduced to Britain from France in the later 18th
jug (G.7) is the earliest of the three dating from about century and for nearly 50 years one company (the
1670-1675; it has an ovoid body with pinched ribbing British Plate Glass Company at Ravenhead,
in a diamond relief pattern. Lancashire) had dominated the industry. The early
19th century saw the establishment of a number of
George Ravenscroft (1618-1681) applied to the crown rivals, including the Thames Plate Glass Company in
in March 1673 for a patent to manufacture an Poplar, London. The expansion in plate glass
improved kind of glass. For a period of two years production was sustained by building booms and
from when the patent was granted in May 1674 until changing architectural fashions which prized large
the spring of 1676, Ravenscroft experimented and windows.
developed his new Christaline Glass. This new glass
revolutionised the English glass industry, but the new The production of plate glass was a complex and
invention was not without problems. Early pieces labour-intensive sector of the industry. Considerable
such as those in the Cecil Higgins collection suffer attention was first devoted to obtaining the most pure
from the deterioration known as crisseling, caused by ingredients possible. The sands used were the best
its unstable composition. This has meant that the glass available (i.e. with minimal iron content), with
has always been kept in a different environment from significant sources being the Isle of Wight and Kings
other parts of the collection to stop the deterioration Lynn. A variety of fluxes were used depending on
from spreading further. In the 1950’s a specially technological, political or economic factors. By 1823
constructed airtight case costing £62 was built for it, the Ravenhead works started to make use of soda
then in the seventies when a modern extension was from the double decomposition of common salt and
added, a purpose built case with climate controls potashes. Many also made use of Leblanc soda from
became the glass’s new home. Though the glass has the 1830s onwards. The source of lime used to
never been lent to other institutions due to its fragility stabilise the glass was usually chalk or high-quality
it has always remained on permanent display, that is, limestone and this was often slaked prior to use.
until now.
The raw materials were melted in a crucible for 1 to 2
The gallery has seen a dramatic change in the last two days and then transferred to a second refractory
years, the main building which housed the collection container (a cuvette) where the glass was further
has closed, to allow building work to begin on refined for several hours to remove any imperfections
Bedford Gallery, a historic building on the site that in the glass (especially bubbles). When the glass in
had not been used since the 1970’s. The newly the cuvette was judged to be ready it was lifted out of
refurbished building is now a state of the art two the furnace using a crane (Figure 1) and transported to
storey exhibition space. Opened in April 2009, a casting table which was positioned in front of an
Bedford Gallery is phase one in the overall plan to annealing chamber. The molten glass was poured onto
refurbish Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford the metal casting table and then flattened with a large
Museum. Phase 2 will see the total refurbishment of metal roller, the thickness of the plate being
Cecil Higgins and Bedford Museum, with the determined by two metal strips placed along either
inclusion of an updated Ceramics and Glass gallery. side of the casting table (Figures 1 and 2). Cast plates
Provisionally titled the Design Gallery, the gallery of glass were generally half an inch (12.5mm) thick
will explore stylistic developments in the applied arts with an area (prior to cutting) of up to 100 square feet
from the 17th century to the 20th century. Key themes (10.8m2) in 1836, and up to 270 square feet (29m2) in
will include design and manufacturing techniques, 1876. The casting-tables were on wheels and typically
supported by craft technique interactive areas weighed 14 tons (the plate glass formed on them
focusing on glass, ceramics, enamel and glazes and of typically weighing 0.3–1 tons). Once it had been
course the new gallery will include a new climate rolled flat, the glass plate was pushed into the
controlled case for the Ravenscroft Glass. The glass annealing chamber where it remained slowly cooling
will remain in storage until the completion of the for several weeks. The tops of the casting tables were
project, hoped to be in 2012.
9
Glass News 26 July 2009

level with the floor of the annealing chamber to ease The next stage was called smoothing and made use of
the transfer of the plate glass after casting (Figures 1 emery, a naturally occurring mineral largely made up
and 2). of corundum (aluminium oxide) but often with
various other iron-bearing minerals. Emery has long
Figure 1. Plate glass casting table showing the been valued as an abrasive because of its hardness and
cuvette, heavy roller, and side rails (Knapp) it was traditionally obtained from the Greek island of
The annealed glass plates had rough surfaces that Naxos. Like the abrasive sand, the emery was usually
were not perfectly flat and required laborious grinding used in several increasingly fine grades. The
and polishing before they were ready for sale. The smoothing stage appears to have been carried out by
grinding and polishing was carried out by embedding hand even after the introduction of mechanical power
a plate of glass in plaster of Paris to prevent its for grinding. The final stage of the process (polishing)
movement. The first stage consisted of grinding using made use of carefully prepared iron oxide powder.
sand and water which served to provide the surface of This was traditionally obtained as crocus martis or
the glass with a plane surface. In some cases several colcothar, a waste product from the manufacture of
different grades of sand were used progressively to sulphuric acid from iron sulphate. The grinding,
grind the surface of the glass. Grinding was initially smoothing and polishing would typically reduce the
carried out by hand but the British Cast Plate Glass thickness of the glass by one half.
Company obtained a Boulton and Watt steam engine
for grinding in 1789. At each stage of grinding, smoothing and polishing of
the cast plates they were carefully inspected for
Figure 2. Casting plate glass (Porter 1832). The bubbles and other blemishes. Where these were
illustrator appears to have reused (but not detected, the plate was cut so that these now occupied
understood) the illustration in Diderot’s Encycopédié marginal positions of little importance. This process,
as this version is very similar but seems to show however, meant that relatively few cast plates
workers tilting the cuvette with their bare hands! survived the process intact and the price per square
foot of plate glass increased with the size of the plate
Glass News 26 July 2009 (Figure 3). The maximum size of plates of glass
produced increased during the late 18th and early 19th
century (Figure 4) with considerable improvement
from the 1830s onwards.

In 1843 Timbs records that the ‘largest plate of glass
yet cast has been finished by the Thames Plate Glass
Company, at Poplar. Its dimensions are 14 ft. 8 in.
long and 8½ ft. wide’. In 1845 Thames Plate Glass
Company glass was selected for use in British light
houses after tests carried out by Trinity House’s
scientific advisor Michael Faraday. Faraday was
scientific advisor from 1836 to 1865 to Trinity House
(the body responsible for safe navigation round the
shores of England and Wales).

In 1846 the Thames Plate Glass Company was
mentioned in a paper read by Brayley to the
Pharmaceutical Society on the subject of glass
manufacture. Brayley explained the method of
manufacturing cast plate glass with specific reference
to the Thames Plate Glass Company. He lists the raw
materials silica sand, lime, sodium carbonate, sodium
nitrate and arsenic oxide. He further records that the
sand was obtained from Kings Lynn and that the
sodium carbonate was produced by the double
decomposition of common salt and potashes, ‘in the
way formerly pursued in the plate-glass works at
Ravenhead’. He describes Thames Plate Glass

10

Company glass as ‘remarkably free from colour’ and Chamber’s Journal, the Daily News, and Household
suggests that this was because the alkali used was Words. The latter, which was a joint venture with
completely free of sodium sulphate (soda prepared by Charles Dickens from 1850 to 1859, was the source of
the Leblanc process frequently contained some the articles which were published by Wills in 1860 as
sulphur. Old Leaves from Household Words. The article is
written in a colourful and entertaining style,
60Price per square foot (shillings)
Having, by this time, crossed a yard, we stood
50 on the edge of a foul creek of the Thames, so
horribly slimy that a crocodile, or an alligator,
40 or any scaly monster of the Saurian period,
seemed much more likely to be encountered
30 in such a neighbourhood than the beautiful
substance that makes our modern rooms so
20 glittering and bright, our streets so dazzling,
and our windows at once so radiant and so
10 strong.

0 but many of the details appear to be consistent with
0 20 40 60 80 100 other known facts, for example it refers to the recent
Size of plate glass (square feet) introduction of mechanical smoothing which is
mentioned by Muspratt writing in the same year.
Figure 3. Prices of plate glass (per square foot) in
1823 During the early 1860s the largest plates of glass were
in very high demand from some theatres. Henry
400 Dircks had patented a method for producing the
illusion of a ghost on stage (the technique uses the
350 same basic principles as the autocue). A plate of glass
was placed between the main stage and the audience
Maximum size (sq. feet) 300 which was used as a mirror to project an image from a
second, hidden stage. The reflection produced by the
250 glass plate was slightly translucent and so gave people
or objects a ghostly appearance. Obviously the
200 technique could only work if the plate glass had no
detectable colour and was perfectly polished so that
150 its presence was not obvious to the audience. By
manipulating lighting on the second stage, the
100 audience had the impression that people and objects
on the main stage appeared and disappeared. The
50 apparatus (essentially the plate glass and the second
stage) was known variously as The Dircksian
0 1800 1820 1840 1860 1880 1900 1920 Phantasmagoria, after the inventor, or as Doctor
1780 Pepper’s Ghost, after Dr John Henry Pepper who with
Dircks first displayed the apparatus at the Royal
Figure 4. Maximum size of plate glass produced Polytechnic Institution, Regents Street, London in
December 1862. The apparatus was a sensational
The Thames Plate Glass Company did not win the success with an estimated quarter of a million people
contract to provide the glass for the Crystal Palace coming to the Polytechnic in the first fifteen months
(which was famously awarded to Chances of that the Ghost was displayed. In the year that
Birmingham) but at the Great Exhibition in 1851 it followed, six theatres in Britain installed the
did exhibit the ‘the largest plate of glass in the world; necessary plate glass but the illusion required plates
its dimensions are eighteen feet eight inches by ten of 12 feet square which were the largest that could
feet’. This plate was further described, ‘There is not a then be produced. Dircks further records that a visitor
blemish on its brilliant surface, and it is as “true” as to the Thames Plate Glass Company in 1862 or 1863
possible. It is placed in such a position that it reflects was told that it had completely sold out of the largest
the whole length of the main avenue of the Crystal plates that the company could make.
Palace, and the effect produced is superb’.

An account of a visit to the Thames Plate Glass
Company was published by William Henry Wills in
1860. Wills was a successful journalist who
contributed to and even edited popular journals of the
period, such as Punch, the Monthly Magazine,

Glass News 26 July 2009 11

Despite the high regard in which the Thames Plate Books and Publications
Glass Company was clearly held and the apparent
high demand for plate glass, the company failed in Ancient Glass Research Along The Silk Road
1874. The most likely reasons for the failure of the
company are the actions of larger competitors, both Gan Fuxi, Robert Brill and Tian Shouyun
domestic and overseas. From the middle of the 19th
century Belgium, and then America, began to export World Scientific Publishing (9 May 2009)
window glass and later plate glass. The later 19th Hardcover, 23.2 x 15.8 x 2.6 cm, 496 pages
century saw the demise of many traditional plate glass ISBN-10: 9812833560
manufacturers and the largest glass producers (e.g. ISBN-13: 978-9812833563
Pilkingtons and Chances) bought out the smaller
specialist plate glass firms and successfully moved Price £64.00
into the plate glass business.
The Silk Road is a main artery connecting Europe and
Recently the site of the Thames Plate Glass Company Asia for political, economical, cultural and technical
was excavated by Wessex Archaeology ahead of the exchange in antiquity, and glass is one of the earliest
planned construction of offices and flats. Later artificial materials to be invented. Studying the origin
development on the site destroyed much of the and evolution of ancient glass along the Silk Road is
archaeological evidence for the manufacture of glass, thus significant for understanding the development
although traces of the annealing ovens and grinding and exchange of culture and technology between
rooms survived. Much of the archaeological China and abroad. This book, for the first time, traces
stratigraphy consisted of a cream-pink mottled deposit the origin, evolution and spreading of ancient Chinese
which has proved to be a mixture of calcium sulphate glass technology. It collects a wealth of data
and iron oxide. This presumably represents the use of contributed by Chinese and foreign experts regarding
plaster of Paris and hematite during the polishing the history and background, visual characteristics and
process. Substantial quantities of plate glass were chemical compositions of the unearthed ancient
recovered showing varying degrees of finish from glasses from along the Northern (Oasis) Silk Road,
rolled but un-ground, through to smoothed (but not especially from the Xinjiang Province (known as the
polished). The results of the scientific analysis of the Western Region in ancient times). The book presents
glass and associated materials will be presented at the new results of the studies on ancient glasses along the
AIHV meeting in Thessaloniki in September. Southern and Sea Silk Roads, and discusses the
influence of the Silk Road on ancient Chinese glass
Glossary of Mosaic Terms technology and art. The contents include:
• Origin and evolution of Ancient Chinese glass (F-X
The Leverhulme Network of the Composition of
Mosaic Glass Tesserae' s publication 'Glossary of Gan)
Mosaic Terms' has been published. It can be • The Silk Road and Ancient Chinese glass (F-X
downloaded and viewed here:
<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/arthistory/1-4-16-1-1.html> Gan)
• Glass and bead trade on the Asian Sea (I Lee)
We consider the Glossary finished in its present state • Ancient lead-silicate glasses and glazes of Central
but there is always room for improvement, so if you
see things that need tweaking or are burning to add an Asia (A A Abdurazakov)
essential category please get in touch. We hope that • On the glass origins in Ancient China from the
you will find the Glossary useful.
relationship between glassmaking and metallurgy
With best wishes (W Qian)
Liz James [[email protected]] and Bente • The inspiration of the Silk Road for Chinese glass
Bjornholt [[email protected]] art (C Lu)
• Chemical composition analyses of early glasses of
Glass News 26 July 2009 different historical periods found in Xinjiang, China
(Q-H Li et al.)
• Ancient Glass in the Grassland of Inner Mongolia
(X-Y Huang)
Study of the Ancient Glasses Found in Chongqing (B
Ma et al.)

12

Archäometrie – Methoden und cemeteries mostly in southwest Germany and
Anwendungsbeispiele Naturwissenschaftlicher northern Switzerland they combine a number of
analytical approaches, from non-invasive XRF
Verfahren In Der Archäologie analysis of corroded surfaces to minimally invasive
SEM-EDS analysis, to XRD analysis for the
Andreas Hauptmann and Volker Pingel identification of colorants and opacifiers, to detailed
optical and electron microscopy of selected bead
Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (2008) fragments and finally lead isotope analysis for
Hardback, 24.4 x 17.6 x 1.6 cm, 264 pages provenancing the lead component of the glass. Such a
German multi-method approach is a hallmark of the science
side of archaeometry, selecting the most suitable
ISBN-10: 3510652320 cocktail of methods available within the given
ISBN-13: 978-3510652327 curatorial, financial and institutional constraints of
any one project.
Price: €49.80
To order e-mail: [email protected] Unfortunately this reviewer can not recommend this
chapter as an introduction to either the methods of
Th. Rehren ancient glass studies, nor as an example for
archaeometric work. As a case study, generously
This book consists of edited lectures originally funded over a four-year period, the material offered
presented in 2001-02 in a series jointly organised by rich opportunities for exemplary work, and the quality
the Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the Deutsches of the underlying research, both analytical and
Bergbau-Museum. Its stated aim is to offer archaeological, appears sound; some of it has been
archaeologists and scientists alike an introduction to published in various peer-reviewed journals, and two
the basics of archaeometry. Thirteen individual doctoral theses have emerged from it. However, the
contributions serve as case studies, conveniently integration of the two main strands in archaeometry,
grouped in five sections: organic archaeological finds namely an understanding of the fundamentals of the
(archaeozoology; physical anthropology; stable historical sciences (archaeo-) with a critical
isotopes in animals; and paleo-DNA); inorganic evaluation of analytical data (-metry), is painfully
archaeological finds (ceramics; glass; metals); missing from this chapter.
quantitative dating (radiocarbon; dendrochronology;
luminescence); geoarchaeology (environmental and One key problem is the lack of emphasis on the time-
landscape archaeology); and prospection methods in sensitivity of ancient glass technologies. The section
archaeology (aerial photography; geophysical titled ‘Some basics about glass’ lists among the
prospection). Surprisingly, some areas are missing; decolourants not only the traditional oxidants
there is nothing on lithics or pigments, archaeo- manganese and antimony oxide and the decolouration
botany, uranium series dating, or the increasingly of the remaining Fe3+ chromophor by complementary
important non-invasive imaging methods based on X- coloration with manganese oxide; without comment it
rays, neutrons, or laser-based scanning of individual also refers to various selenates as complementary
artefacts or whole sites and monuments. But then, colourants, or to Cr3+ and the cadmium compounds
offering ‘examples’, as the title does, implies a degree CdS, CdSe and CdTe as colorants. The leading
of selectivity, and the range is certainly wide enough sentence here refers to Roman methods of coloration,
to offer something for most readers. and no mention is made of the modern nature of these
particular colorants, implicitly suggesting to the
For the sake of the readers of Glass News, this review novice (to whom this book is addressed!) that these
will focus on the chapter on ancient glass. The authors are all Roman methods of coloration and
(Peter Hoffmann, Professor of Analytical Chemistry decolouration. This may be an unlucky abbreviation
at the Technical University Darmstadt, Martin Heck, in a necessarily dense introductory section; but the
his former doctoral student, and Claudia Theune, who authors then state (page 120) as (the main?)
did her PhD on the archaeological aspects of the archaeological hypothesis that the Romans themselves
study) chose the investigation of Merovingian glass did not produce glass but imported it from the Near
beads as their case study. Based on about one East (with reference to a personal communication
thousand individual beads excavated from several rather than a publication), and to offer as support
‘Mediterranean ship wrecks carrying glass ingots
Glass News 26 July 2009 from the East to Rome (Bass 1986).’ Bass (1986), of

13

course, refers to the 1984 campaign at Uluburun, second half of the first millennium AD, relies on the
excavating the famous Late Bronze Age ship probably same principle. The authors report these base glass
en route from Egypt and the Levant to the Aegean, compositions sensibly, based on SEM-EDS data
but certainly not to Rome and not during the Roman rather than the skewed XRF data from corroded
period. The nature of the glass industry had changed surfaces, as a typical base glass with 68 wt% SiO2, c
beyond recognition in the two millennia between the 18 wt% Na2O and 8 wt% CaO. However from this
loss of the ship at Uluburun, and the production of the they then calculate the ratio by weight for the raw
glass used by Late and post-Roman society. materials sand, soda and limestone as 80 : 10 : 10.
The most likely soda source is sodium carbonate,
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated slip in unfamiliar which contains about half of its weight as carbon
territory. The discussion of the colorants is obviously dioxide and or structural water, while silica is added
central to these brightly coloured beads. For green as pure silicon dioxide, quartz. Thus, the ratio by
beads (presumably opaque green) the authors report weight of soda to silica has to be greater with the raw
finding only tin oxide as an opacifier, and suggest that materials than with the glass, not less as suggested
the green colour is due to Cu2+ ions in the glass here and the same applies for lime, which is also
matrix. The glass matrix appears to be a typical soda- added as a carbonate. It would have been interesting
lime-silica glass; this surely should result in an to hear the authors’ opinion on whether lime (as
opaque blue / turquoise if copper is present as Cu2+ limestone or shells) was a conscious third component
ions in solution together with a white opacifier? The in glassmaking recipes and whether they believe that
figure giving the underlying XRD spectrum showing the glass was locally made rather than imported from
only tin oxide (2.18E) is missing; however, in a later the East, or which of the known glass groups (if any)
sentence the authors do mention that in some beads their glasses match and what this may tell us about
‘occasionally’ lead-tin oxide pigment was found trade connections, recycling and glass supplies in
together with the copper ions. The fundamental post-Roman central Europe, but there is no further
difference in colour between lead-tin oxide (yellow) elaboration.
and tin oxide (white) does not appear to register; page
120 informs us that the oxidation of a tin-lead alloy The technical presentation is also less than ideal.
results in the formation of a pure white pigment, ‘in Figure 2.18E was already reported missing; Fig. 2.19,
contrast to the oxidation of pure tin’, the colour of a series of histograms, has the X axis missing in half
which is not further specified. This reviewer would be of them, and is insufficiently explained; Table 2.6 has
much more comfortable if there had been at least a an unexplained and impenetrable date code; the main
discussion of the possibility that the green beads were analytical tables are based on qualitative analyses of
actually coloured by a combination of lead-tin yellow corroded beads, while the only table of quantitative
pigment (with typical excess lead oxide from the data (by SEM-EDS on polished fragments) does not
production of the pigment, and necessary to stabilise give any colorants, but only the re-normalised base
it in the glass matrix) and copper ions (blue) in glass composition. There is a Bibliography at the end
solution, giving a green opaque glass. Archaeological of the chapter, listing authors and year of publication
evidence for the production of lead-rich lead-tin for the literature referred to in the text, however, for
yellow pigment from a Merovingian context in the full bibliographic details the reader still has to
northern Switzerland was published by two of the consult the collective Bibliography at the end of the
authors of this chapter (Heck et al. 2003), as part of book, and so the purpose of this chapter-specific
the project presented here, and copper-blue coloration listing is unclear to this reviewer.
is common among ancient glass.
Overall, I find it hard to see how this chapter is
An important step in the interpretation of intensively providing the basics of archaeometric practice to
coloured glasses is to separate the ‘base glass’ from mainstream scientists or archaeologists. What are
any additives, typically transition and heavy metal billed as the main findings are long-established
oxides. This concept of a base glass, first championed practice and knowledge (use of multiple methods;
by Robert Brill, enables the identification of likely general identification of metal oxides as colorants);
raw materials and glass compositions before the and the text contains factual errors or unusual
addition of colorants. The compositional definition of opinions which are neither explained nor justified.
major Late Roman to early Islamic glass groups, such
as the blue-green glass prevalent in Romano-British To finish this review on a more upbeat note I am glad
and northern German contexts or the Levantine I glass to add that the other chapters seem to be of a
dominating Near Eastern glass assemblages in the consistently high standard, often giving clear

Glass News 26 July 2009 14

explanations of principles and instructive case studies, sites of glass and faience in Egypt, with focus on
presented by leading scholars in their respective industrial evidence from Malkata, Tell el-Amarna,
fields. An index offers easy access to special topics, Qantir, Menshiyeh and Lisht. He provides useful
and the overall quality of images and production is discussion on the relationship between faience and
high. As a hard-cover book it should withstand glass making industries and their links to royal
regular use over long periods of time; most of its authority, control and organisation in New Kingdom
content would deserve routine consultation by Egypt.
newcomers to archaeometry, and offers good case
studies for use in the classroom. A technical paper by Rehren and Pusch provides new
exciting scientific analyses on two different types of
Vitreous Materials in the Late Bronze Age vessels that are associated with the glass industry at
Aegean: A Window to the East Mediterranean Qantir. Their analysis shows the potential of scientific
techniques for recognising vessels that were used for
World the making of glass from its raw materials, hence
Caroline Jackson and Emma Wager. providing a “powerful diagnostic criterion for the
positive identification of glass making”.
Paperback 240p, b/w and 8p col ills, tabs
Chapter 3 reviews evidence of technological
Price: £32.00 developments directly from the LBA Aegean.
Panagiotaki, in a rather personal style, provides
(Sheffield Studies in Aegean Archaeology, Oxbow fascinating details of material evidence mainly from
Books 2008) Crete and the mainland, and offers a comprehensive
ISBN-13: 978-1-84217-261-2 overview of current understanding of vitreous
materials industries and their links to palaces and
P. Manti shrines. The chronological correlation chart prepared
by J. Phillips is particularly helpful in this chapter.
Vitreous Material in the Late Bronze Age Aegean
collects the papers delivered at the 9th annual round Nightingale’s extensive study focuses on the typology
table of the Sheffield Centre for Aegean Archaeology, of glass and faience beads from LBA Mycenae and
held in 2005. The aim of this meeting was to bring discusses their occurrence in Minoan Crete, Rhodes,
together colleagues working in archaeology and the Levant. He convincingly supports the view
(archaeology, philology, art history and that bead exports found in places where Mycenaean
archaeological science) not only to review current pottery is also discovered, may be seen as what
thinking on the technology, innovation, organisation Jackson describes as a ‘badge of ethnicity’.
and control of production of vitreous materials in the
LBA Aegean but also to discuss the impact of such Tite and co-workers present materials’ analyses in an
technologies and innovation within wider social attempt to identify raw materials used in the
structures, and examine their value, meaning and production of vitreous materials found in the LBA
significance. The papers therefore cover a wide range Aegean. Their analyses support previous
of subjects within the topic. The writing style archaeological hypothesis that faience was made
inevitably varies from author to author, but all papers locally using local raw materials. Although there is
are relevant, interesting and thought provoking. evidence for different glass compositions from the
Aegean, they suggest that glass was imported but they
The book starts with an exceptionally useful do not exclude the possibility that some glass may
introduction written by the editors Jackson and have been produced in Greece itself.
Wager, which bridges well the 10 chapters of this
volume, and sets the themes of discussion to follow in Hughes-Brock compares and contrasts the typology
a coherent and intelligent manner. They summarise and technology associated with relief beads, glass
current knowledge on the production and role of seals and their moulds. She places their chronological
vitreous materials in LBA Aegean and place it within distribution and development within the organisation
the broader framework of the geographical occurrence of the crafts, whilst discussing the significance of
and developments. The strong links and interactions those objects to the people who used them.
with Egypt are recognised and Nicholson (Chapter 1)
reviews the archaeological evidence from production Bennet uses evidence from the production, use and
repair of elite items from various industries such as
Glass News 26 July 2009
15

Mycenaean beads, bronzes and perfumed oil, and Excavations at Chester, 25 Bridge Street 2001
argues for a “trademark” of palatial production. He Two Thousand Years of Urban Life in
sees these as witnesses of ideologies in the palatial Microcosm
period and the institutionalisation of power, and
convincingly suggests that they were “part of a D Garner, Diane Backhouse and John Carrott
system of materialising relationships between the
palace and members of the non-palatial elite”. Chester City Council
(Archaeol Serv Excav Surv Rep 14)
Polinger Foster revisits the subject of LBA Aegean A4, xiv + 437 pp. ISBN 978-1-872587-21-9
faience 30 years after her landmark work. She reviews
other notable contributions and focuses discussion on Price: £30.00 plus £6.00 P&P
artistic, geopolitical and religious inquiries relating to Available from: Grosvenor museum Shop,
faience. She sets questions on the role that this 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2D
material played in the intellectual and aesthetic E-mail: [email protected]
development of Minoan art and demonstrates that http://www.chesterarchaeolsoc.org.uk/CHE_25BS01_
faience was not simply a cheap substitute for lapis publ_flyer.pdf
lazuli as was thought 30 years ago.
Excavations in the backlands on the east side of
Peters explores social and technological aspects of the Bridge Street have provided a wealth of
use of colour and its symbolism. Although the archaeological evidence for 2000 years of the city’s
discussion is not predominantly on glass or faience, it history. Combined with documentary references, this
provides useful arguments for a better understanding has enabled us to build up a detailed picture of the
of the perception and use of colour in the Minoan evolution of Chester’s urban form and the trades,
world. He argues for the symbolic use of different lifestyle and status of the people who lived in the area.
colours in different industries, and he suggests how The groups of Roman and early post-medieval
blue can have a symbolic association with the ceramics, clay pipes, vessel glass, well preserved
technology of copper and bronze. animal bones and plant remains are the largest to be
published from the city and, in some cases, from the
Finally, Sherratt closes the book with a paper focusing north-west. Finds are catalogued and often drawn.
on the questions of value. Starting from a valid The glass reports include Roman Glass by Hilary
comment on difficulties related to the visual Cool (pages 287-288), Medieval and Post-Medieval
identification and terminology of vitreous materials, glass by Hugh Willmott (288- 301) and Glass Frit
she centres discussion on the significance of Beads and Ornaments by Hilary Cool (302-303).
economic values, restrictions of technological
knowledge and monopolies and links these to social, Please send your contributions for
cultural and ideological values during the LBA. This Glass News No. 27 by
permits understanding of both the introduction of such 1st December 2009
materials and technologies and how their social and to:
economic value declined when the palace lost Sarah Paynter
exclusivity of production of objects such as glass Fort Cumberland,
seals. Fort Cumberland Road,
Eastney,
This book certainly captures our current Portsmouth PO4 9LD
understanding of the production, circulation and use
of vitreous materials in the social, economic, and [email protected]
political context of the LBA Aegean. It is an excellent
contribution to the archaeology of the LBA Aegean, or
and will be of interest to a variety of specialists
working within this area. This volume is a major Rachel Tyson
contribution to the field. 25 North Street,

Calne,
Wiltshire SN11 0HQ
[email protected]

Glass News 26 July 2009 16

Glass News

Published by The Association for the History of Glass Ltd
www.historyofglass.org.uk

January 2010 Number 27 ISSN 1362-5195

We also thank Julia Poole, who has stood down from the
Board after many years, having joined it in 1991. Until
recently she was Keeper of Decorative Art at the
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, which houses the
Donald Beves collection of English drinking glasses, one
of the best in the UK. She organised an AHG study day
‘Glass in Cambridge Museums’ in 2005, and co-
organised with Aileen Dawson a seminar ‘Buying and
Selling Glass in Britain in 1600-1950’ held in 2008 at the
Wallace Collection, London. Her study of glass
mentioned in the Bedford papers, ‘Glass purchased for
the household of John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford
1732-71’, will be published in The Glass Circle Journal
11 in early 2010. Julia has always been generous in
welcoming scholars and collectors to see and study the
glass in the Fitzwilliam Museum, which has been much
appreciated by the members of the AHG and other glass
societies. We thank her for her many years of service to
the AHG and the glass community.

Rachel Tyson is now co-editing Glass News with Sarah
Paynter. The editors would like to thank this issue’s
contributors for so much material, and please keep it
coming for future issues!

A Roman cameo glass vase has recently come to light; Please look out for details of the Autumn study day in
Martine Newby reveals all on page 13. (Bonhams) the next issue and the website, which will be on ‘Glass in
Art and Literature’, organised by Martine Newby and
Sandy Davison.

Welcome to Issue 27 of Glass News where there are a SUBSCRIPTION REMINDER
number of changes to the AHG Board for us to report.
Many of you will have already heard the sad news that Subscriptions will now be taken to coincide with the
Sarah Jennings, a valuable and much respected AHG financial year starting in April. The next subscription
board member, died in September. A full obituary can be is due shortly, to cover the year April 2010 to April
found on pages 4-5. 2011.

There are some other changes to the AHG Board. John Subscription renewals (£10, 10€, $20 US) payable to
Clark, who recently retired from the Museum of London, The Association for the History of Glass Ltd should be
has handed over his role dealing with subscriptions and sent to Mr J.W. Smedley:
membership of the AHG and the printing of Glass News
to Jim Smedley from the University of Sheffield, who we The University of Sheffield
welcome warmly. We would like to voice our Department of Engineering Materials
appreciation to John for his invaluable work since Sir Robert Hadfield Building
subscriptions started in 1996. He continues as a member Portobello Street
of the Board. Sheffield S1 3JD

Glass News 27 January 2010 1

AHG SPRING STUDY DAY 2010 AHG Grants

Glass for vessels, glass for windows: Grants are available from the Association for the History
Medieval glass 1066-1550 of Glass, for educational or research activities consistent
with the Association’s charitable aims. These could
Tuesday 23 March 10am include, for example, attendance at a conference to
The Wallace Collection, London present a lecture or poster, a study visit, fieldwork, or
Hertford House, Manchester Square publication of scholarly works. There are no restrictions
on who may apply or on the topics of applications, which
London W1U 3BN will be judged on merit. Multiple applications in different
years will be considered with individual awards up to
Following growth in research and general interest in £500. See also the AHG website for details
medieval glass in recent years, this study day will bring (www.historyofglass.org.uk). An application form may
together speakers looking at new excavations and surveys be downloaded from the website, or obtained from Sandy
of glass sites of the medieval period, techniques of Davison, AHG Hon Secretary, 68 East Street, Thame,
medieval glass production and decoration, and on Oxfordshire OX9 3JS. Email: [email protected]
specific case studies looking at medieval glass in context.
The programme will include medieval glass vessels and Broadfield House Update
society, glass in Norfolk, ecclesiastical stained glass, and
glazing techniques. Speakers include David Dungworth, Encouraging news for Broadfield House Glass Museum:
Rachel Tyson, Tim Ayres, Claire Daunton, Ian Freestone, it will not close in the near future. Dudley Metropolitan
Heather Gilderdale and Sarah Brown. The day is being Borough Council are considering feasibility studies for its
organised by Caroline Jackson and Ian Freestone. future, and state: ‘Our vision is to create an excellent
visitor experience that is appropriate to our renowned
If you would like to attend, please send your full contact glass collections, which is one of the finest in the world.’
details and a cheque for £30 (non-members), £20 (AHG
members), or £10 (students – proof required) payable to CONFERENCES AND
The Association for the History of Glass Ltd to: EXHIBITIONS

Sandra Davison (Hon. Sec.) Scotland’s Glass: 400 Years of
68 East Street Glassmaking
Thame
Oxon OX9 3JS A year of celebration will start with the launch of a new
Email: [email protected] book: Scotland’s Glass: 400 years of Glassmaking by
Shiona Airlie and Brian J R Blench, the first book ever to
Receipts may be sent by email or with an SAE. cover the entire subject. Fully illustrated with colour
Participants who normally live outside the UK may pay photographs. Available from www.cortex-design.co.uk
upon arrival at the venue in UK sterling. for £14.99.

THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE The Directory Booklet: A 20-page booklet is available
containing data and information on virtually every
HISTORY OF GLASS glassmaker working in Scotland. It also includes glass-
related buildings, sites and museums which often have
Registered charity 275236 surprising links with glass. It is free with the book, or can
be downloaded from the website below.
Board of Management
The Museum of Edinburgh will be showing throughout
President: Caroline Jackson 2010 some of the finest glass made in the capital since
Hon Secretary: Sandy Davison the 18th century. Visitors will be able to see the wine
Hon Treasurer: Jim Smedley glass made for Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745, and
samples of the City of Edinburgh’s royal wedding present
Members of Board made in the late 19th century for the Duke and Duchess
of York. From February onwards a special display of
Denise Allen David Crossley Sarah Paynter
Justine Bayley Aileen Dawson Jennifer Price 2
Colin Brain David Martlew St John Simpson
John Clark Martine Newby Angela Wardle

Glass News 27 January 2010

glass from Lauriston Castle will be on view at the to include other medieval art. In addition, ten impressive
museum. There will be a series of glass lectures through downloadable stained glass trail leaflets in colour have
the summer months. been produced to explore glass by the Norwich workshop
in churches in the area. These can be found on the
Aberdeen Art Gallery will be showing Scottish Glass: A website www.hungate.org.uk/Exhibitions.
Celebration from 2 March – 31 October 2010, including
Jacobite wine glasses, creations from Perth’s Vasart and The centre is open Thursday-Saturday 10am-4pm at St
Monart factories and contemporary glass. Peter’s Hungate Church, Princes Street, Norwich NR3
1AE. Telephone 01603 623254 or email the Centre
Glasgow Museums is mounting an exhibition of some of Manager [email protected].
their finest Scottish glass in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and
Museum. This will be an opportunity to see one of the Association Francaise pour l’Archeologie
earliest bottles ever made in Glasgow, fine engraved du Verre (AFAV) Orléans 2010
glass, Clutha art nouveau glass, and late 20th-century
Scottish art glass. Guided tours will be available of the The 25th annual meeting of the AFAV will be held on
glass collections at Kelvingrove and the Resource Centre 28-29 May 2010 in Orléans in association with the Musée
in Nitshill. des Beaux-Arts d’Orléans around the exhibition on
Bernard Perrot (see below).
Edinburgh College of Art 1-4 October 2010. A
conference will include lectures by eminent speakers, an Registration required by February 2010. For more
exhibition by current members of the college, and information see www.afaverre.fr.
demonstrations of glassmaking.
Bernard Perrot, verrier italien à Orléans
For further details of these and other events visit the (1668-1738)
website: www.scotlandsglass400.co.uk.
13 March-27 June 2010
Society of Glass Technology Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Orléans
Annual Meeting 2010
This exhibition celebrates the work of Bernard Perrot,
The Society of Glass Technology’s Annual meeting will arguably the most celebrated French glassmaker before
be held on 8-10 September 2010 at Murray Edwards the 20th century. He was born in Altare in Italy, and
College, Cambridge University. Incorporating New emigrated to France, where he founded a glasshouse in
Research Forum on Glass, History and Heritage of Glass, Orléans in 1668 with the support of the duke of Orléans.
Science and Technology Sessions and Workshops. He made several significant technical discoveries in
glassmaking. The exhibition will include loans from
See www.societyofglasstechnology.org.uk for further other museums in France, the Corning Museum of Glass,
details. The British Museum and others.

Hungate Medieval Art 7ICAANE in London
Stained Glass Exhibition
From 12-16 April 2010 the British Museum and UCL
Hungate Medieval Art is a new centre for medieval art will be jointly hosting the International Congress on the
situated in the 15th-century church of St Peter’s Hungate Archaeology of the Ancient Near East [7ICAANE]. This
in Norwich. will be the first time this congress has been held in the
UK. The organisers expect up to 900 attendees. The
The Stained Glass exhibition, curated by Claire Daunton programme includes papers and posters on the latest
(University of East Anglia and Trinity Hall Cambridge) research and fieldwork from across the Middle East plus
reflects the distinctive Norwich school of medieval glass five main themes (Mega-cities and Mega-sites; Ancient
while looking at the development of stained glass over and Modern Issues in Cultural Heritage; Colour and
the period and the people and processes involved in its Light in Architecture, Art and Material Culture; The
production. The glass is clearly displayed, and a stained Archaeology of Consumption and Disposal; Landscape,
glass conservator’s workshop has been built where a Transport and Communication), an Islamic Archaeology
craftsman can be seen working on special occasions. It session and ten different specialist workshops. The
will run until October 2010, when the focus will change
3
Glass News 27 January 2010

proceedings will be published. The congress is already The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, closed on
overbooked but for further details see the website at Tuesdays. Further information can be found at
www.7icaane.org www.grandcurtiusliege.be.

International Congress on Archaeological Tiffany Treasures: Favrile Glass from
Sciences in the Eastern Mediterranean Special Collections
and the Near East (ICASEMNE)
1 November 2009-31 October 2010
29 April – 1 May 2010 The Corning Museum of Glass, New York
Paphos, Cyprus
This exhibition will showcase nearly 60 hand-wrought
Sessions will cover all aspects of research on natural and pieces designed by Tiffany during one of his most fertile
material science applications to archaeology and cultural periods of artistic ingenuity, made at his glasshouse in
heritage in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Near East. Corona, NY, between 1895 and 1920.
The chronological scope ranges from the earliest
prehistory to the medieval and historical periods. OBITUARIES

Further details can be found on the website: Sarah Jennings
http://icasemne.net/ or email [email protected].
1947-2009
Verre et Histoire
Many readers will already have heard that AHG board
Forthcoming meetings member Sarah Jennings died on the 4th of September
2009. Archaeology and, in particular, glass and medieval
This association in France exists to provide a forum for ceramics were amongst her great passions and her
different disciplines interested in the history of glass to considerable expertise on these subjects was widely
exchange research and ideas, to develop understanding of acknowledged and respected. As well as her work for the
glass. It organises regular conferences, debates, study AHG board, she was also a member and former secretary
days, visits and demonstrations covering all aspects of the of the Medieval Research Pottery Group and was a fellow
history of glass. and council member of the Society of Antiquaries of
London. Sarah expressed the wish that an amount from
27 March 2010 Visit to Conches to see the stained glass her estate be used to fund bursaries for MPRG and AHG
at the church of Ste-Foy, and an exhibition of Henri to encourage ceramic and glass studies.
Guérin at the Musée du Verre, organised by Eric Louet
and Michel Hérold. Sarah was born in Scotland in 1947 and had two brothers.
Her father was a BOAC pilot (British Overseas Airways
6 June 2010 Study day on Les familles verrières in Paris, Corp) and she appears to have inherited his sense of
organised by Michel Philippe. adventure. Independent, determined and intelligent, she
had much in common with the pioneering female
For further details see the website: www.verre- explorers of previous generations and used to take tea
histoire.org or email [email protected]. with Agatha Christie. Rumour has it that she was
expelled from school after absconding in favour of an
Le Grand Curtius, Liège excavation at Winchester, and so began a lifelong love of
archaeology. As well as the UK, Sarah worked
Le Grand Curtius museum in Liège has been renovated, extensively abroad in France (Lezoux), Afghanistan
resulting in an impressive new home on the bank of the (Khandahar), Iran (Siraf), Ras al-Khaimah (United Arab
Meuse for its prestigious international collection of Emirates), Lebanon (Tyre and Beirut Souks), Libya
10,000 pieces of glass from Antiquity to the present. (Benghazi) and Albania (Butrint).
Glass exhibitions in the past decade have included
‘Venetian glass, its origins, its brilliance’ and ‘Glass in After working in Winchester (volunteer through to senior
all its brilliance’. Other collections include Archaeology, finds supervisor 1963-1969), Peterborough (Pottery and
Arms, Decorative Arts, Religious and Mosan art. finds researcher for the Nene Valley Research Unit 1974-
1977), Norwich (Pottery researcher and illustrator for the
Glass News 27 January 2010 Norwich Survey 1977-1985), Lincoln (Pottery researcher
for the Trust for Lincolnshire Archaeology 1985-1986),

4

London (Pottery researcher for the Passmore Edwards tended to know only about certain aspects of her life. The
Museum 1987) and York (Pottery and artefact researcher tales of all her exploits and achievements would probably
for York Archaeological Trust 1987-1992) she joined fill a book, rather than these brief paragraphs, and it is a
English Heritage in the early 90’s. As a Senior source of great regret to many of us that we will never
Archaeologist, she was a keen advocate of research into know the full story.
ceramics and glass, including the experimental work by
the Roman Glassmakers. She was a driving force behind Sarah Paynter
the EH investigations at Whitby Abbey and also derived
great enjoyment from training, mentoring and outreach Barbara Morris
activities. A regular participant in public events, such as
Festival of History and National Archaeology Weekend, 1918-2009
Sarah had an ability to enthuse others with her
commitment to archaeology. During her career, she Barbara Morris was a founder member of the British
published widely, including an East Anglian Monograph National Committee of the AIHV (now the AHG), at the
on Eighteen centuries of Pottery from Norwich and the meetings leading up to its formation in 1978. She was
MPRG Occasional Paper A Guide to the Classification of deputy keeper of the ceramics department at the Victoria
Medieval Ceramic Forms. She was justifiably proud of and Albert Museum before retiring in 1978, and a great
her Berytus volume on The Vessel Glass from Beirut. Art and Crafts scholar. She continued to work after her
retirement as a lecturer for Sotheby’s art course, and
Sarah set high standards for herself and others and could joined the team of experts on the BBC’s Antiques
be a fierce opponent. But she was also a fierce ally, a Roadshow, as well as continuing her involvement in
champion for the underdog and prone to unexpected acts several societies. Her chief loves were glass and
of great generosity, compassion and kindness, which won ceramics, and 19th-century embroidery. A full obituary
her many friends amongst all walks of life. was printed by The Times on August 17 2009.

Sarah was at her most creative when fund raising. Her Dan Barag
early career was in catering and she was a wonderful
cook, which she put to good use making cakes in return 1935-2009
for donations to charity. She also demanded a constant
stream of wine corks for her infamous corkboards. Her Dan Barag, Professor at the Hebrew University of
efforts raised thousands of pounds each year, which must Jerusalem was a great scholar of the glass vessels of the
have changed many lives for the better, not least those of Roman and Byzantine periods in Palestine, on which he
her pleasantly plump and tipsy colleagues. She enjoyed completed his PhD in 1970. He was also a respected
gardening, jewellery and crafts, books, antiques fairs, the numismatist and field archaeologist. His extensive
Archers, cats, food, drink and nicotine. She was great publications included the ‘Catalogue of Western Asiatic
fun. Glass in the British Museum’ in 1985. He served a term
as Vice-President of the AIHV. A full obituary can be
Despite her achievements, Sarah was never arrogant. She seen at www.sal.org.uk/obituaries.
was a modest and private person, and even her friends
MEETINGS REVIEWS

Sarah Jennings at the Festival of History. (Eng. Heritage) AIHV 18th Congress, Thessaloniki

Glass News 27 January 2010 September 2009

The 18th congress of AIHV took place in September in
Thessaloniki, Greece. The coastal city of Thessaloniki is
the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia of
Alexander the Great fame, and more of him later. This
large, industrial city has a fascinating and tumultuous
history reflected in surviving elements of Roman,
Byzantine, Ottoman and Jewish culture.

Lectures were divided between the Museum of Byzantine
Culture and the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.

5

Both of these modern museums had beautiful exhibits sacred city of the Macedonians at the foothill of Mt.
including very early glass objects, some in perfectly Olympus.
colourless glass. The cavernous lecture Room A
accomodated the Roman sessions and lecture Room B The standard of lectures and posters was generally
provided a more ‘intimate’ venue for everything else. excellent, with a healthy mixture of students and well-
Rather depressingly for speakers in lecture room B, established researchers, small projects and major
including myself, this worked well in terms of audience undertakings, from all over the world.
numbers. It was a tribute to the organisers that the More details are available on the AIHV website
conference was very well attended. www.aghv.gr/congress/congress.html and the
proceedings will be published in due course.
There were about 120 presentations and 50 posters, so
I’ve just picked out some personal highlights. The Sarah Paynter
presentations showing glassworkers in action were very
enjoyable, such as Lankton’s ‘Gold-glass beads in AHG Autumn Study Day: Interpreting
Hellenistic Rhodes and contemporary Java’ and Liardet’s Finds from Glasshouse Excavations
‘An archaeological and ethnographic study of core-
formed alabastra’. Wouters presented an enviable November 2009
collection of Merovingian glassworking waste from
Belgium. The investigation of the windows of John This study day was organised at LAARC, Mortimer
Thornton at York Minster by Freestone, Kunicki- Wheeler House in London, by Colin Brain, Angela
Goldfinger, Ayers and Gilderdale-Scott, championed a Wardle and David Dungworth, and provided
hollistic approach to glass research, tackling opportunities to handle material from glasshouses as well
conservation, archaeological and art historical issues. as enjoying presentations about recent excavations of
Verità’s very informative summary was one of a number Roman and 17th-century glasshouse sites in London.
of good presentations on tesserae. There were also a
number of presentations and posters making use of recent John Shepherd led the first session, looking at the
discoveries enabling glass from different areas of the considerable number of excavations in the City of
Near East and Egypt to be distinguished in order to London that have produced evidence for Roman glass
answer questions on production, trade and authenticity working. The earliest glass working dated to c. AD 60-70
(for example Reade et al., Jackson and Price, Smirniou et at Regis House by the Thames waterfront; the latest was
al., Reade et al., Nicholson et al. and Boulogne). Martine a 3rd- or 4th-century dump in the north of the City. Most
Newby’s beautiful poster of a Roman cameo vase (see notable was the vast quantity and range of material found
page 13) unsurprisingly drew a large crowd, leading to in Basinghall Street in 2005. It was interesting that no
perhaps the first case of a presentation being organised crucibles containing glass being made from raw
due to popular demand. ingredients were found at any of these sites. Instead, there
was evidence for tank furnaces where broken glass
There were many social activities arranged. Amongst the fragments were reheated before new glass was worked.
most memorable was an evening boat trip on a mock
galleon. Many learned scholars huddled in the prow in a The glass waste produced from these sites included many
futile effort to escape the sound system. Whilst we thousands of moils, which John and Angela had studied
motored around the harbour, watching the sunset against in great detail and so were able to comment on the
Mount Olympus, I was trying to work out if there were varying lengths and the indications of different
any lifejackets stashed behind the bar. techniques of detaching the moil. There were blocks of
tank metal, large chunks of raw glass, and fragments of
Saturday’s visit was a breathless tour of Vergina, Dion cullet that had fused together, as well as various trails and
and Pikrolimni. Pikrolimni, the ancient lake of Chalastra, threads from glassblowing, some of which had impurities
was mentioned by Pliny as a source of natron; the in them.
crystalline salt used to make ‘natron glass’. This was an
interesting, if surreal, stop as there is now a health spa at An extra dimension was added to the day by having Mark
the lake but most delegates came away with a memento Taylor and David Hill, ‘the Roman Glassmakers’, there
according to taste; skin cream or bags of natron. We with a display of waste products from their experimental
rushed on to the ancient capital of the Macedonian glassmaking projects at Quarley in Hampshire. It was a
Kingdom near Vergina. A perhaps unique museum has great benefit to have first hand information from a
been constructed around one of the royal tombs thought glassblower about how various waste products were
to belong to Philip II, father of Alexander. The stunning created. This was followed by a short video documenting
exhibits and our knowledgeable and very excitable guide their experimental work building Roman-style furnaces,
made this a wonderful experience. At Dion we saw the which a number of AHG members were present at in
2006. It also showed what we had not witnessed: how the
Glass News 27 January 2010
6

furnace subsequently decayed when left open to the until 6pm on a Friday afternoon! Each year, the History
elements, and the physical traces the furnace eventually & Heritage of Glass Group mounts such a seminar
left in the field. The deterioration of one furnace was designed to stimulate productive discussion among glass
hastened by a cat jumping on to the roof, from which the enthusiasts from widely diverse backgrounds. The day’s
cat came away in a better state than the furnace! programme provided a rich mix of topics delivered by
presenters eminent in fundamental glass science,
Colin Brain then led a session looking at mid 17th- industrial glassmaking, glass conservation and glass
century glasshouse sites in London. In 1974 Aldgate archaeology.
produced some waste material and vessel fragments
thought to date to c. 1650-70, although no furnace After a long and distinguished career in Pilkington, David
structures were found. Colin presented some Bricknell explored what is arguably the foremost
documentary evidence for a glasshouse nearby at invention in glassmaking during the twentieth century.
Goodman’s Yard, which is likely to be where the Aldgate Under a subtitle the Mythology Revisited he revealed
waste came from. Documentary notes by Christopher some of the gritty reality underpinning Sir Alastair
Merret and Swedish visitor Gustav Jung in the 17th Pilkington’s historic Float Glass Process. His definitive
century provided details of how London glasshouses book on the subject has recently been published.
operated at that time, and one of the glasshouses Jung
described may have been that excavated in Aldgate. Keith Barley addressed the sometimes vexed and always
sensitive issues surrounding the protection of significant
After lunch we split into two groups for the handling historic stained glass windows. This fragile art, most
sessions, looking at either the 17th-century or Roman often encountered in cathedrals and parish churches
finds. I joined the 17th-century group, although I would throughout the UK, has played a significant role in
have liked to have seen both. The Aldgate material shaping today’s society. Protective glazing raises ethical
demonstrated many of the waste products we had heard as well as technical issues, which Keith was able expertly
about that morning: moils, droplets, pulled ends, crucible to share with his audience. Ruth Cooke spoke of the
fragments containing clear glass, rods of opaque white dramatic deterioration sometimes encountered in the
glass etc. The waste material provided additional absence of such protection. When glazing having
evidence to the documentary sources. sensitive glass compositions are faced by adverse
environmental conditions the conservator can be faced
Sarah Paynter, who joined the Roman group, writes: ‘We with irreversible deterioration and irretrievable loss of the
looked at material from London, much of which features original art. Determining the best course of action is in
in the new publication by John Shepherd and Angela these circumstances a particularly thorny problem.
Wardle (see p. 16). There was a large collection of waste,
including cullet, moils and large lumps of glass thought The ability of glass to resist its environment is strongly
to come from a furnace with an integral tank, which influenced by its molecular structure. Adrian Wright had
brought home the considerable scale of the project used techniques such as neutron diffraction to study the
undertaken by John and Angela. The session was impact of chemical composition on that structure, and
particularly informative as ‘the Roman Glassmakers’ from this perspective he reviewed the many and varied
were also there, and their glassworking knowledge added attempts which had been made over the years to define
an extra level of interpretation.’ just what we mean by the word “glass”. It was an
illuminating and thought-provoking paper.
The day was an extremely useful practical study in
interpreting glass waste, which could be applied to any Window glass has over the centuries been made by
period. Despite having attended a similar day a few years various processes from glass melted in different locations
ago, the incredible recent finds from London, the and from very different raw materials. David Dungworth
subsequent detailed study, and collaboration with the brought to the seminar the fruits of much careful
Roman Glassmakers provided a more integrated chemical analysis to give insight into the evolution of
approach and plenty of new information. window glass compositions during the last five centuries.
As well as contributing to conservation studies, this data
Rachel Tyson can also inform our understanding of past glassmaking
techniques. Ian Miller has had much experience of
History & Heritage of Glass Seminar excavating the unglamorous remains of past industrial
glassmaking, and he gave a fascinating account of 19th-
September 2009 century glass furnaces. Archaeology revealed what
documentary studies obscured.
Organised as part of the Society of Glass Technology’s
Annual Conference, this seminar was very much Often the development of glassmaking was influenced by
appreciated by the participants, who stayed there in force pivotal individuals or families. Peter Pearson charted the

Glass News 27 January 2010 7

history of one such family of bottle-makers in West sensitive judgements about how such three-dimensional
Bromwich, a story of progress from farm to factory jigsaw puzzles should be treated. Conservation of historic
carrying the true Victorian entrepreneurial spirit through architectural glazing likewise demands great technical
the turbulent years of the twentieth century. António and personal skills. Sarah Brown brought the day to a
Pires de Matos, on the other hand, studied the notebooks close by showcasing the MA course at York University,
of William Stephens who re-established the Portuguese recently established to provide the multifaceted training
Royal Glass Manufactory in Marinha Grande just north needed by tomorrow’s stained glass conservators.
of Lisbon. Dating from the 1770s these notebooks show a
surprisingly modern scientific approach which allowed The organisers wish to express their appreciation to these
the successful development of coloured glass recipes. speakers, who gave generously of their time and expertise
to create a hugely successful day seminar. Further details
Conservation of glass artefacts for museum display is may be found on the website at:
often challenged by their fragmentary nature and their www.lancaster2009.sgthome.co.uk/pages/Programme
inevitable fragility. Dana Norris used two case studies to sections/HandH.html
reveal how the conservator frequently must undo
previous attempts at reconstruction and make quite David Martlew

AHG Grant Report:
Spatial and Temporal Considerations of Technological Change:

Examining Early Islamic Glass
Carolyn M. Swan

Doctoral Candidate at The Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World,
Brown University, USA

The poster I presented at the 18th Congress of the AIHV natron; it is unlikely that these are Roman or Byzantine
had two aims: to give the results of a preliminary glasses found in later archaeological contexts, because
chemical analysis of glass from southern Jordan, and to their deep blue color and incised decoration mark them as
interpret this data in light of current scholarship dealing Umayyad or ‘Abbasid period products. The glasses were
with reasons for the changes in glassmaking technology colored by adding as little as 0.01 wt% CoO and 0.02
that took place circa the 8th-10th centuries CE (AD). wt% CuO; a small amount of MnO was also present,
which served to counteract the green effect of FeO
A small group of scratch-decorated blue vessel fragments impurities and increase the optical absorption of the CoO,
recovered from 8th-9th century CE contexts at Ayla, in thus producing the intense blue color.
southern Jordan, were chemically analysed using an
electron microprobe. The samples proved to be low- The use of traditional technology (i.e. natron flux) in the
magnesium soda-lime-silica glasses made from mineral early Islamic period indicates that there was some degree

Scratch-decorated dark blue glass from Ayla, Jordan (ca. 8th-9th c. CE)( Swan 2004) 8

Glass News 27 January 2010

of industrial continuity during a time when significant Islamic period: how it informed or reflected the socio-
political, religious, and socio-cultural changes were cultural situation, how exactly it related to the Byzantine
taking place as the Near East transitioned from a Greco- industry, or how it would transform into the late Islamic
Roman to an Arab-Persian sphere of influence. However, industry. Exploring and integrating the social realities of
despite this adherence to tradition, the choice of color, the past with the material analyses made in the present,
decorative style, and motif of the scratch-decorated thinking about why change occurred (not just where and
vessels illustrate that changes were indeed taking place when), and identifying the various processes that shape
on other levels—perhaps in terms of aesthetics, taste or and stabilize technology might help us build a better
preference, the identity of the producers or consumers, or picture of the history and significance of glass and in turn
access to raw material sources. help us to address larger socio-historical questions.

Observations like these may lead to new questions about
the nature of glassmaking and industry in the early

The Turner Museum of Glass, 2000 - 2009
J.W. Smedley ([email protected], 0114 222 5500)

Department of Engineering Materials, The University of Sheffield, Portobello Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD

It is 10 years since I last wrote of the Turner Museum of Aquisitions
Glass (TMG) in Glass News1. In that article I gave a brief The acquisition of pieces demonstrating high technical
overview of Professor W.E.S. Turner’s contribution to skills, involving multiple fabrication techniques and
the glassmaking industry of the early 20th century and therefore worthy of a place in the collection has not been
about the TMG when the glass collection moved from the easy. The cost of glass artefacts has been prohibitive and
original buildings on Northumberland Road to its present it is only through funding from within Sheffield
location in the Sir Robert Hadfield Building in 1991. In University (UoS) or the National Arts Collection Fund
the period 1993 to 2000 the TMG slowly settled into its (NACF) that pieces have been purchased. Similarly
new home where the emphasis was to get the building fit donations have been received from various benefactors.
for its educational and research purposes. In this article I The funding source or the donor is identified with the
will describe acquisitions and the numerous activities description of each piece.
since 2000 that have enhanced the TMG’s profile within
Sheffield University, in the local community, nationally There was a lull in acquisitions during 2004 and 2005
and internationally and reflect its vitality. when the Sir Robert Hadfield Building, as with many
1960’s vintage buildings, was found to contain asbestos.
Professor W.E.S. Turner is remembered as a very capable The main emphasis during this period was to plan for the
scientist and a ‘genius’ businessman2. He has left to us safe removal and storage of the collection prior to the
important legacies namely extensive scientific and asbestos removal and the safe return of the collection
technical publications, professional glass societies and following completion of the asbestos removal and the
the TMG. His scientific and technical career and remedial works that followed.
contribution is discussed in detail by Douglas 3-4 and this
continues to be marked by eminent scholars through the A wheel engraved vase by Anna Dickinson was acquired
prestigious biennial Turner Memorial Lecture. To date in 2000 supported by NACF funding. The grey beehive
there have been 16 lectures in the series, which dates shaped vase with mottled patina around the rim has wheel
from 1967, with our own Robert Charleston, Roy cut concentric circles and vertical ribs.
Newton, Hugh Tait, Ian Freestone, David Whitehouse
and Michael Cable making their own unique In 2001 with a Year of the Artist Award (NACF) Keiko
contributions 5-10. Mukaide took a period as ‘Artist in Residence’ in the
TMG where she undertook to design and create a site
Turner’s role as a glass collector has been eloquently specific piece. Her work ‘Hydrosphere 4: Reflections
described by Barnes11. Less well-appreciated is Turner’s on bracken.’ was inspired by bracken’s important role as
desire to create a museum to act as a social and a source of alkali in medieval glassmaking 12-13 and which
educational space where staff and students alike would be is the subject of current collaborative research between
surrounded by the aesthetic qualities of one of the the departments of Archaeology and Engineering
materials that they routinely study. It is this ethos that has Materials within The University of Sheffield. This
been followed to lead us to the current museum space sculpture is meant to reflect the natural form of bracken
which is fit for use in many different activities. by showing glass spheres, containing ashes and different
coloured glasses, on long stems. The influence of the

Glass News 27 January 2010 9

artisan in transforming raw materials is the principal The Department of Engineering Materials has long
theme of the work. The sculpture was unveiled by established relationships with local schools, most notably
Professor Larry L. Hench at the reception prior to the Handsworth Grange Comprehensive, and in 2003 staff
September 2001 Turner Memorial Lecture. jointly organised the Pan European Education
Programme in Sheffield. This involved secondary schools
2002 saw the acquisition of pieces, using NACF funding, from Sheffield, France, Germany and Denmark coming
by Tessa Clegg and Galia Amsel. Tessa Clegg’s piece together to study a scientific theme, which in this case
named ‘Jazz Box’ was made using the time consuming was glass as a scientific and artistic medium. The TMG
and technically demanding lost wax process to yield a hosted many of the educational sessions and several
blue and green sculpture described as ‘exploring the entertaining social sessions. The glass collection is also
vessel’. ‘Aperture’ by Galia Amsel was manufactured regularly used as a teaching and research aid. Academic
using a variety of kiln forming techniques to control the departments from institutions including Sheffield
large volume of glass involved. There is a central insert University, Sheffield Hallam University and North
of opaque orange / red placed in the top of the clear glass Nottinghamshire College have used the collection to
lozenge shaped body. ‘Delta Vase’ by the Dutch support their activities in architecture, history and
architect and designer Professor Mart Van Schijndel was heritage, fine art and advertising. Most recently the
donated in 2002. This vase design, manufactured from Department of History in Sheffield University have used
flat glass, won the first prize in the 1984 Arango Design the collection during their study of the ‘Politics of
Competition: ‘Glass that works’. drinking’.

In 2007 with UoS funding a wheel engraved piece by In 2006 the TMG jointly organised an exhibition of
Denis Mann called ‘Dischord’ was purchased. A ‘Whisky dispensers and measures’. This attracted
rectangular slab of optical plate glass is overlaid with a much attention with articles in the Yorkshire Post and
layer of cobalt blue glass. The image shows two touching The Guardian and also appearing on BBC Radio
hands, one being a man and the other a woman, Sheffield’s magazine programme ‘Rony’s Forum’ when
positioned over a piano keyboard. The notes if played the author answered questions about Turner, the museum
together would be discordant and not completely in and the collection. Again, at this time the TMG was
harmony. There is humour in that only a piano player visited by a group from the Glass Association led by
would recognise the deliberate dischord. Judith Vincent and Charles Hajdamach, formerly of
Broadfield Glass Museum and a member of AHG. Three
Most recently in 2009 donations of glass sculptures have presentations were made; by Jim Smedley: ‘Professor
been made by Peter Layton and Bruce Marks. Peter is W.E.S. Turner and the Turner Museum of Glass’, by Dr
proprietor of ‘London Glassblowing’ and Bruce is one of Caroline Jackson (AHG President): ‘Roman glassmaking
the resident glassblowers. Peter’s sculpture is the and glasses’, and by Brian Brooks: ‘Whisky dispensers
rectangular pebble form in his famous ‘Paradiso’ range. and measures.’ To commemorate the visit the TMG was
This shows exquisite skills in trailed decoration being presented with a drinking glass commemorating Queen
melted onto and formed into the body of an amber glass Victoria’s visit to the new Sheffield Town Hall as part of
body. Bruce describes his work as a ‘Horned Vessel’ her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897. The glass
that symbolises his early years in Africa. It is made of needs some further research to prove its provenance.
three separate pieces i.e. the central clear glass vessel and
the two opaque amber glass with trailed threads, that are 2007 saw South Yorkshire Police’s Rapid Reaction
assembled during hot working. The outer surfaces of the (Firearms) Training Team use the TMG as a venue for
central clear glass vessel and the horns are shot blasted simulated VIP protection exercises. The training
and acid etched to yield a smooth silky finish. The horns assessments were carried out under strict real life
look incredibly lifelike! Given the current financial conditions and it was an eye opener to experience the
climate it is very generous of Peter and Bruce to make level of detail that goes into protection planning. A Green
their special donations. Roof, with funding from the European Regional
Development Fund, is being created on the space
Museum Activities immediately outside and adjacent to the TMG. The
During the period 2000 to 2002 the TMG was used by project started in 2007 and is expected to be completed in
Occupational Health professionals from local hospitals the summer of 2009. It is anticipated that this
as a space for ‘holistic and therapeutic healing’. Patients development will greatly enhance the facilities available
recovering from strokes and other serious medical to all, encouraging a wider clientele.
conditions were given the opportunity to sit in the
peaceful surrounds of the TMG as part of their recovery The late part of 2008 saw a really exciting development
programmes. This was widely used but a change in local when the Sheffield University Fine Arts Society made the
hospital programmes halted the collaboration. TMG the home for its regular art exhibitions. In January
2009 an exhibition showing works by a local artist
Glass News 27 January 2010
10

Jacqueline Currell drew much attention and in March 3. Douglas, R.W. (1967) ‘W E S Turner – Applied
2009 an exhibition featuring Brigitte Hayden’s Scientist.’ Glass Technology, 8, (1), 19-28
landscapes was equally well received. Other exhibitions 4. Douglas, R.W. (1964) ‘William Ernest Stephen
are planned for later in the year and planning for 2010 Turner, 1881 – 1963’ Royal Society, London, 325-355
has already commenced. Also during 2008 several 5. Charleston, R.J. (1980) ‘ Our Forefathers in Glass.’
important pieces from the collection featured in a Glass Technology, 21 (1), 27 – 36
Sheffield University exhibition ‘The Art of Women’. 6. Newton, R.G. (1985) ‘W E S Turner – Recollections
Paint, textiles, ceramics and glass were the artistic and Developments.’ Glass Technology, 26, (2), 93-103
mediums shown. 7. Tait, H. (1993) ‘The Emergence and Domination of the
Venetian Glass Industry in the Late Middle Ages and the
Conclusion Renaissance.’
The Turner Museum of Glass maintains its place as the 8. Freestone, I.C., (1999) ‘Ancient Glass and Modern
social heart of the Department of Engineering materials Science – building on the legacy of W.E.S. Turner.’
clearly following Turner’s guiding principle. Its value to 9. Whitehouse, D. (2005) ‘Cut and Engraved Glass in the
the department is much understated but it will continue to Islamic World Between the 8th and 11th centuries.’
expand its role and contribution by adding more services 10. Cable, M (2007) ‘The Development of Glass-Melting
and acquiring new pieces for the collection. Furnaces and South Yorkshire’s Pioneering Role.’
11. Barnes, J. (1982) ‘Collectors & Patrons – past and
Visits to the TMG can be arranged by contacting Jim present. Professor W.E.S. Turner.’ Antique Collector,
Smedley at the address given above. (1), 62-65
12. Smedley, J.W., Jackson, C.M. (2002) ‘Medieval and
Also see www.turnermuseum.group.sheffield.ac.uk post-medieval glass technology: a review of bracken in
glassmaking.’ Glass Technology, 43, December, 221-224
References 13. Jackson, C.M., Smedley, J.W. (2004) ‘Medieval and
1. Smedley, J.W. (Winter 1997), Glass News 4, 4 post-medieval glass technology: melting characteristics
2. Private communication with Professor Michael Cable of some glasses melted from vegetable ash and sand
mixtures.’ Glass Technology, 45, February, 36 - 42

Lead-Silica Glass in the 11th-Century Pewter Cheapside Hoard
Christopher Witney-Lagen (Institute of Archaeology, UCL)

Dated to the 11th century on stylistic grounds, the Reynolds at the UCL Institute of Archaeology, these
Cheapside hoard in the Museum of London provides settings were analysed by the author via SEM-EDS and
unique insights into the stylistic range, materials, and were found to consist of lead-silica glass.
cultural affiliations of the early medieval urban pewterer.
Found by chance in 1838 in Cheapside, London, the Figure 1: Series 1 (Brooch 3917). (Museum of London)
hoard contains a total of forty-four pewter objects The first type consists of seven brooches, museum
featuring several types of brooches, beads, and rings. accession numbers 3913-3917 and 3919-3920, evidently
Analysis of decorative detail shows that several of these cast in the same mould (Fig. 1). These feature four
brooch types were cast using the same mould, evidence concentric rings with a radiating ladder motif set around a
of their mass-production and suggesting that the hoard central coloured setting. The brooches are each 23.5mm
represents a jeweller’s stock. The styles featured in the
hoard place it within the Anglo-Scandinavian sphere.
Comparanda are known in Scandinavian-influenced York
and the recently published Guildhall excavations in
London; one disc brooch, museum accession number
3912, the largest of the hoard, has an exact mould match
with a pewter example in the National Museum, Dublin
(Murdoch 1991).

Among the disc brooches present in the hoard are three
types represented by eighteen individual objects that
feature central amber or green-coloured hemispherical
glass settings most likely designed to imitate more costly
stone gems. As part of a complete stylistic and
compositional study of the hoard supervised by Andrew

Glass News 27 January 2010 11

in diameter and 1-1.5mm deep. The sub-circular settings Emission (BSE) mode. In all cases, the glass was shown
are 5-6mm in diameter and 3-4mm thick. In most cases to consist of lead oxide and silica.
they are amber-coloured, but are a deep green on 3919
and 3920. A collar surrounds each setting that obscures, Figure 3: Series 3 (Brooch 3909). ( Museum of London)
or nearly obscures, the beads in brooches 3919 and 3920.
Because the lead oxide-silica system has a higher
The second type consists of six brooches, museum working temperature than the lead-tin pewter alloy used
accession numbers 3922-3927 (Fig. 2). Each contains to cast the brooches, above 700 °C versus below 500 °C,
three concentric beaded rings with a radiating ladder it is most likely that the glass gems were manufactured in
motif around an amber-coloured setting. Most are 19mm a separate stage prior to casting the brooches.
in diameter, though 3921 is 18mm across, and are 1mm Stereomicroscopic analysis of exposed areas on the
deep. In general appearance they are quite similar to the brooches’ reverse suggests that they were created by
first series, but on a smaller scale. As in the first type, dropping a hemisphere of molten material onto a bed of
the settings are surrounded by a metal collar 8.5mm in fine sand; once cool, they would be ready for use.
diameter that is partly obscured on brooches 3922, 3924, Whether the beads were made by the same workshop that
and 3927. The setting on 3927 has been damaged, manufactured the pewter objects cannot be determined,
exhibiting cracks and a missing section. The settings as very little archaeological evidence for early medieval
vary in size from 6.5mm in brooch 3923 to 4.5mm on pewter manufacturing has been recovered to date, save a
3926. In both of these series, it seems as though the handful of antler moulds from London, Southampton,
glass gem was cast with the brooch in a three-piece Ipswich, and Hedeby. The shared use of lead between
mould and the excess metal cut away to expose it on the the early medieval pewterers and high-lead glassmakers
brooch’s obverse, rather than set separately afterwards. suggests close industrial and technological links. The
pewterers required metallic lead as a hardener for their tin
Figure 2: Series 2 (Brooch 3925). (Museum of London) alloys, and lead oxide was the principal ingredient in
lead-silica glass. Roasting metallic lead can easily make
The third series encompasses five composite disc lead oxide.
brooches, 3905 and 3908-3911 (Fig. 3). These are thus
far stylistically unique to the Cheapside hoard. Although Our earliest textual reference for lead-silica glass is found
warped, they measure approximately 25mm in diameter. in De coloribus et artibus Romanorum by Heraclius,
These consist of a central setting wrapped in a metal where he gives a 2:1 lead oxide to silica recipe in broad
strip, the ends of which have been crimped and slipped agreement with quantitative analysis of other
together. The settings, varying between 5mm and archaeological examples. Adding brass, he mentions,
2.5mm, are held in place by crimping the top of the strips will create green glass. Although the manuscript dates to
over them. Although slightly corroded, their original the 12th century, parts may date to the 10th.
appearance would have been dark green. Archaeological examples of amber and green high-lead
glass are well known in the 10th and 11th centuries,
Non-destructive analytical techniques ensured that the having been found not only in Britain, but also in the
aesthetic value of these objects was preserved. This Baltic, Central and Eastern Europe, and the lower Volga
limited the analysis to surface measurements; as a result, and Caucasus (Bayley and Doonan 1999; Bayley 2007 &
only qualitative results could be obtained. Analysis was 2009). This was the age of developed Viking trade
performed with a Philips XL 30 Scanning Electron networks, as evidenced by the parallels between the
Microscope (SEM-EDX) using Oxford Instruments Cheapside hoard and the Dublin mould match.
INCA software, operating at 20 kV in Back-Scattered Surprisingly, few lead-silica objects are known in
Scandinavia, although the material has been found at
Glass News 27 January 2010
12

Hedeby (Steppuhn 1998). Crucible finds attest to References
working in Dublin, Gloucester, Lincoln, and York
(Bayley 2009); finds from the latter suggest glass Bayley, J. (2007). Early Medieval Lead-Rich Glass
manufacturing as well. These indicate that either the Trinkets. Research News: English Heritage 6 (Spring
finished glass or its manufacturing technology was 2007), 24-25.
imported into Britain from the 10th century and Bayley, J. (2009). Early medieval lead-rich glass in the
continued until the end of the 11th. Quantitative analysis British Isles – a survey of the evidence, in K. Janssens, P.
demonstrates that without the addition of additional Degryse, P. Cosyns, J. Caen and L. Van’t dack (eds),
colorants, lead-silica glass is naturally the amber colour Annales du 17e Congrès de l’Association Internationale
seen on most of the Cheapside material. Green glass may pour l’Histoire du Verre. Brussels: University Press
be achieved with less than 1% copper oxide, as evidenced Antwerp, 255-260.
by beads from York (Bayley and Doonan 2000). This is Bayley, J. and Doonan, R. (1999). The High-Lead Glass
well below the detection limit of the surface analysis from 16-22 Coppergate. Ancient Monuments Lab Report
employed here, but is the most likely colorant for the 74/99.
green settings present in the hoard. Bayley, J. and Doonan, R. (2000). Glass Manufacturing
Evidence, in A. J. Mainman and N. S. H. Rogers (eds),
Typical lead-silica glass finished objects include beads Craft, Industry, and Everyday Life: Finds from Anglo-
and rings; only in London does the material appear as Scandinavian York, The Archaeology of York 17/14:
settings in dress accessories. Its use as imitation gems in 2519-2528.
relatively mass-produced pewter jewellery signals that it Murdoch, T., (ed.) (1991). Treasures and Trinkets:
had a non-elite social role, a product produced for urban Jewellery in London from Pre-Roman Times to the
consumers. Finding lead-silica glass in the Cheapside 1930s. London: Museum of London.
hoard not only strengthens its 11th-century date, but also Steppuhn, P. (1998). Die Glasfunde von Haithabu.
provides new evidence of the uses to which the material Berichte über die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu 32.
was put and provides tantalising insights into urban Neumünster, Wachholtz.
cultural and craft interaction in early medieval London.

An Early Imperial Roman Cameo Glass Vase
Martine Newby ([email protected])

At the AIHV Congress in Thessaloniki in September I British Museum, and might even provide further clues as
presented this newly identified Roman cameo glass vase to the original form and technique of manufacture of the
(see photo on p.1) to an unsuspecting audience both as a former.
poster presentation and then as a short lecture. It was also
the first time I was permitted to talk about the piece Figure 1: The punishment of Dirce. (Bonhams)
although I had first seen photographs of it back in
February. I finally got to handle the Vase in late March
and although I had seen the photographs nothing quite
prepared me for its sheer size and the supreme quality of
its decoration. The provenance of the Vase is unknown
and has been consigned to the auctioneers Bonhams for
study and restoration by the daughter of a late European
collector, who was given it in the late 1940s but did not
appreciate its significance.

The Vase stands 35.5cm, has a rim diameter of 11.7cm,
and weighs 2.85kg. Unfortunately it is broken and has
been restored seemingly at least on three occasions, while
some of the breaks and chips appear modern as if it has
been broken more recently. The only areas with traces of
the original limy weathering are the underside of the
handles and the interior suggesting that the Vase had a
stone-like appearance when first found. It is made in dark
blue glass appearing black with an opaque white overlay
cut with two friezes. At first glance it appears to be a
cross between the Portland Vase and Auldjo Jug in the

Glass News 27 January 2010 13

The decoration is very dense with no space on the body part of its restoration and scientific analysis at Cardiff
left undecorated. In the upper frieze there are 25 figures University under the supervision of Prof. Ian Freestone.
that appear to form two related scenes on each side, all on A longer article on the Vase will be included in Jenny
a continuous ground-line. The first scene almost certainly Price’s forthcoming Festschrift, and it is hoped that the
shows the punishment of Dirce (Fig. 1), with the woman Vase itself will be exhibited, together with an
on the ground the unfortunate queen, with Amphion on accompanying catalogue, at Bonhams later in 2010.
the left and Zethus on the right holding the bull by its
horns and mouth. On the other side there is a beautiful Figure 2: Apollo or Orpheus. (Bonhams)
seated figure of a muscular naked young Apollo or
Orpheus (Fig. 2) and further along a Dionysiac
procession including a woman, possibly Ariadne, after
her wedding and initiation into the Dionysaic mysteries.
That these scenes are probably wholly or partly
Dionysiac should not come as a surprise as at least seven
of the other 15 surviving cameo vessels or panels also
have Dionysiac scenes. At this stage it is unclear how
these scenes relate to each other or to the battle frieze
below which has a further 18 figures, including five on
horseback (possibly Amazons) armed with spears or short
swords and five dead bodies. I still have a huge task in
identifying the scenes and with scholars disputing the
iconography of the Portland Vase for the last 400 years, I
doubt there will be a consensus among academics for this
Vase either.

At the AIHV Congress I suggested that the Vase may
have been free-blown because of the large elongated
bubbles aligned vertically in the blue glass, the largest of
which is 13cm long. These, however, might also be
indicative of another method of manufacture currently
being investigated by Mark Taylor and David Hill. This
will become much clearer when the Vase is dismantled as

NEW PUBLICATIONS production techniques and decoration. It establishes the
socio-economic framework of glassmaking and
Roman and Early Christian Glassworking glassmakers’ social status in the Roman world generally
1st C. B.C. – 6th C. A.D. Production and and in Thessaloniki specifically, while identifying
Products. Vessels from Thessaloniki and probable local products. It presents all the excavation
its environs finds from Thessaloniki and its environs between 1912
and 2002. A typological classification is created for these
Anastassios C. Antonaras 754 objects, which encompass the overwhelming
majority of common excavation finds in the Balkans, as
I. SIDERIS Publications, Athens 2009 well as for the decorative themes that appear on the more
Greek valuable pieces. Comparative material was studied from
ISBN 978-960-08-0470-6 the entire Mediterranean. A summary of the excavation
42 € history of these vessels’ find-spots is provided, with
Tel: 0030-210-3833434 details for each excavation, in many cases unpublished
Email: [email protected] and identified through research in the archives of the
relevant museums and Ephorates of Antiquities.
This volume examines in detail, for the first time in
Greek scholarship, the production of glass and glass The uses of glass vessels are presented, and there is
vessels in the eastern Mediterranean from the Hellenistic discussion and interpretation of the reasons that
Age through the Early Christian period, analysing permitted, or imposed, the choice of glass for their
production. The finds are statistically analysed, and there
Glass News 27 January 2010 is a chronological overview examining them century by
century on the basis of use and place of production.

14

Finally, there is an effort to interpret the data from the ISSN 1993-1255
study in historical terms, and incorporate results into the German
political-economic evolution of the region’s political 55 €from www.bda.at/publikationen/1097/13988
history.
This publication draws together all available sources
Relatively unfamiliar glassmaking terms are explained in about glass production in the 16th and 17th centuries in
an extensive Greek-English glossary of glassworking the manor of Reichenau am Freiwald (Lower Austria).
technology and typology terms. The typological- The focus is on the results of the archaeological research,
chronological chart with shapes and periods of use for which are significantly complemented by the descriptions
each form and a one-page chart with the shape and the contained in the Topographia Windhagiana. The furnaces
number of each form make it easy to locate each shape can be partly reconstructed; crucibles and annealing pots
and compare it with other finds. The material is fully have been found; chemical analyses have been made of
documented in drawings and photographs, and every the glass; hollow, flat and solid glass has been excavated.
object in the catalogue is illustrated. The 602 Vessels include colourless glasses à la façon de venise,
geographical terms in the work, many unknown, are coloured plates, bowls and jugs, and simple everyday
presented in detail in a geographic index with reference forms. Some groups, such as the diamond-point engraved
to the country/region to which each belongs today; both or enamel-painted pieces, can be related to well-known
ancient and modern site names are identified. art historical glasses. The importance of Austria’s
mediating role in the transfer of technological knowledge
Serçe Limani Vol. II. The Glass of an between Venice and Bohemia is discussed.
Eleventh-Century Shipwreck
Production Technology of Faience and
George F. Bass, Robert H.Brill, Berta Lledo, and Related Early Vitreous Materials
Sheila D. Matthews
M. S. Tite and A. J. Shortland with contributions
Texas A&M University Press 2009 from I. Angelini, A. Bouquillon, G. D. Hatton, A.
ISBN 978-1-60344-064-6 Kaczmarczyk, B. McCarthy, Y. Maniatis, M.
$120 plus $55 foreign shipping Panagiotaki, S. Paynter and P. B. Vandiver
Tel: 800-826-8911
www.tamupress.com Oxford University School of Archaeology Monograph 72
2008
For almost a millennium, a modest wooden ship lay ISBN-13: 978-1-905905-12-6
underwater off the coast of Serçe Limani, Turkey, filled ISBN-10: 1-905905-12-2
with evidence of trade and objects of daily life. The ship, Hardback £35
now excavated by the Institute of Nautical Archaeology Available from www.oxbowbooks.com
at Texas A&M University, trafficked in both the
Byzantine and Islamic worlds of its time. It bore cargo The aim of this monograph is to bring together in a single
that included three metric tons of glass cullet, including volume the results of many years of research into the
broken Islamic vessels and eighty pieces of intact production technology of early vitreous materials. The
glassware, along with various artifacts of ship life. vitreous materials considered are glazed steatite, faience,
Egyptian blue and green frits, and glazed pottery and
This second volume of the discovery’s investigation bricks from Egypt, the Near East, the Indus Valley and
focuses on the excavation, conservation, and study of the Europe spanning the period from their beginnings in the
glass found in the wreckage. The extensive catalogue will 5th millennium BC through to the Roman period. For
be a valuable tool for archaeologists and scholars of each group of material, the emphasis is on presenting the
Islamic glass and Islamic trade. available analytical and microstructural data which are
then interpreted to provide information on the raw
Frühneuzeitliche Glasproduktion in der materials and methods of fabrication employed in their
Herrscahft Reichenau am Freiwald, production. Where appropriate, the raw materials used in
Niederösterreich (Early Modern Glass the production of these materials are compared with those
used in the production of contemporary glass. By
Production at the Manor of Reichenau am bringing together data for such a wide range of materials,
Freiwald, Lower Austria) geographical regions and chronological periods,
Kinga Tarcsay similarities and differences in production technology are
identified, and the pattern of technological discovery,
FÖMat A 19, 2009 adoption, choice and transfer is thus revealed.

Glass News 27 January 2010 15

Annales du 17e Congrès de l’AIHV WEBSITE UPDATE

Published September 2009 www.britishmuseum.org

Contains papers from the following sessions: Pre-Roman The British Museum have now catalogued almost 2
and Hellenistic glass; Roman glass; Post-Roman glass; million objects from their collections online, many with
15th and 16th Century glass; 16th and 17th Century images. Most images have digital downloads available to
glass; 18th-21st Century glass; Stained glass and order free of charge for non-commercial use through the
weathering; Glass decoration and enamels; individual object pages. After registering, you may order
Archaeometry. up 100 free images a month.

Further details including a full list of contents can be seen www.cmog.org
on the AIHV website: www.aihv.org.
The Corning Museum of Glass, New York, has many of
BOOK REVIEW its objects catalogued online in its Glass Collection.
There are other useful parts of the website such as videos
The Glass Workers of Roman London of glassmaking techniques in Glassworking Processes
and sections on Art and History; Science and
John Shepherd and Angela Wardle Technology; Glassmaking Techniques; and Dictionary in
A Resource on Glass. The Rakow Research Library has
Museum of London Archaeology 2009 started to digitize important books in the collection, and
64 pages Many colour ills. two exhibition catalogues of contemporary glass from
ISBN 978-1-901992-84-7 1959 and 1979 are currently available under Virtual
£6.95 Available from the Museum of London shop Books.
Tel: 020 7814 5600
Please send your contributions:
This book describes over 70kg of Roman glassworking Finds • Research • Ideas
waste that was recovered from 35 Basinghall Street,
London in 2005. This Museum of London Archaeology Publications • Conferences • News
publication is sponsored by the site developer Stanhope. for Glass News 28
by
The book itself is a small, slim, nicely presented and 1st June 2010
affordable paperback. The chapters are short, easy to
digest and relevant and the headings are in the form of to either of the editors:
questions, making information easy to find. A large part
of the book’s appeal is the liberal use of pictures of Sarah Paynter
glassworkers in action, demonstrated by the Roman Fort Cumberland
glassworkers Mark Taylor and David Hill. These pictures Fort Cumberland Road
greatly aid understanding; the images of the experimental
bottles being formed were especially useful. The pictures, Eastney
together with the clear and concise language, make the Portsmouth PO4 9LD
book an ideal introduction for readers with little prior
knowledge of glassworking. [email protected]

The book is also likely to be valuable for specialists or
working with archaeological glass, however, largely due
to the excellent pictures of the Roman material together Rachel Tyson
with the summarised interpretation of experts John 25 North Street
Shepherd and Angela Wardle. The assemblages featured
are important to our understanding of Roman Calne
glassworking in England but waste material such as this Wiltshire SN11 0HQ
is rarely so well illustrated. This publication will greatly
aid other specialists in identifying and interpreting similar [email protected]
material.
16
Victoria Lucas and Sarah Paynter

Glass News 27 January 2010

Glass NewsAHGAUTUMN
STUDY DAY 2010

Published by The Association for the History of Glass Ltd
www.historyofglass.org.uk

July 2010 Number 28 ISSN 1362-5195

The Lycurgus cup, during a viewing as part of the recent Some fascinating subjects are on the agenda for this
conference at the British Museum (see page 4) autumn’s study day:
• Marianne Stern - Terminologies for glass,
AHG AUTUMN STUDY DAY 2010
glassmaking and glassworkers in ancient Greek
Glass in Art and Literature literature
• Denise Allen and Tim Leary - 'Although the
Thursday 21 October 2010 winter does not pass through me, nevertheless
The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, the sun sparkles within me': Roman glass and
Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN literature
• Anna Contadini - Title to be confirmed: glass in
The day will start at 10 am with registration and coffee Islamic art and literature
and closes at 4.45pm. Lunch is from 12.30pm to 2pm • Martine Newby - Table manners and the use of
(lunch is not provided). The AHG AGM, for members glass vessels as depicted in pictures ancient to
only, will be during the lunch break, at 1.30pm. Further modern
details will be provided on the AHG website. • Christopher Sheppard - Fantasies in Glass:
Depictions of Venetian and Façon de Venise
Glass News 28 July 2010 Glass in Dutch still-lifes
• Colin and Sue Brain - 17th-century glass and
glassmaking reflected in the writing of Fellows
of the Royal Society
• Peter Lole – Title to be confirmed: glass in 18th-
century literature

If you would like to attend, please send your full contact
details and a cheque for £30 (non-members), £20 (AHG
members), or £10 (students – proof required) payable to
The Association for the History of Glass Ltd to:

Sandra Davison (Hon. Sec.).
68 East Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3JS
Email: [email protected]
Receipts may be sent by email or with an SAE.
Participants from outside the UK may pay upon arrival
at the venue in UK sterling. Refunds will not be given
for cancellations within two weeks of the meeting.

A still-life fresco from the House of Julia Felix, Pompeii

1

CONFERENCES AND ICON Stained Glass Conference
EXHIBITIONS
15th September 2010
The Bomford Collection Cambridge
of Ancient Glass
The Icon Stained Glass Group is pleased to announce
Saturday 30th October 2010 that the 2010 conference sponsored by Chapel Studio;
10.00am – 3.00pm “Colleges, parishes and villas, stained glass conservation
Clifton Cathedral in the South of England” will take place at Cripps
Auditorium Magdalene College, Cambridge, CB3 0AG.
The Friends of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives
have organised a study day on the Bomford Collection Confirmed speakers include art historians Carola Hicks
of ancient glass in Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. (author of The Kings Glass) and Martin Harrison (on
Victorian stained glass), and conservators Prof. Joost
The Bomford Collection at Bristol City Museum and Art Caen (Belgium), Prof. Sebastian Strobl (Germany) and
gallery comprises ancient glass vessels and other glass Elise Learner (France).
objects assembled by James Bomford between 1960 and
1978. The collection demonstrates the early history of Lunch is included in the delegate fee of £78 (Icon
glass, its evolution and technology. It contains many members and students) or £88 (non members). Please
forms made in the Roman world between about 1500 contact Peter Campling for a booking form on 01603
BC and 500 AD. Some of the early pieces are very rare, 891505 or email [email protected].
whilst others display great technical expertise and
beauty. Several items have been added recently under Scotland’s Glass: 400 Years of
the auspices of The Bomford Trust, which was set up to Glassmaking
provide funds for further purchases.
As mentioned in the previous issue of GN, a series of
The morning session takes place in the Apostle Room, events are taking place throughout the year to celebrate
Clifton Cathedral, when our two guest speakers will Scotland’s glassmaking history and collections. This
provide insight into this important collection, which at includes:
present is not on display. In the afternoon there is the • An exhibition at the Museum of Edinburgh with a
opportunity to see some of the rare and beautiful objects,
brought out of store for this event, in the City Museum special display of glass from Lauriston Castle and a
& Art Gallery close by. series of glass lectures through the summer months
• Scottish Glass: A Celebration at Aberdeen Art
The speakers are: Gallery until 31 October 2010
· Nicholas Thomas, former Director of Bristol • An exhibition of some of the finest Scottish glass in
City Museum and trustee of The Bomford Trust Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum plus guided
· Jennifer Price, Emeritus Professor in the tours of the glass collections at Kelvingrove and the
Department of Archaeology at Durham Resource Centre in Nitshill
University and trustee of The Bomford Trust • A conference at Edinburgh College of Art 1-4
October 2010 including lectures by eminent
Cost: £25 per head includes refreshments during the speakers, an exhibition by current members of the
morning session college, and demonstrations of glassmaking

For further details please contact: For further details of these and other events visit the
Mary Bailey, 22 Carnarvon Road, Bristol BS6 7DT website: www.scotlandsglass400.co.uk.
Email: [email protected] Tel: 0117 942 1944
To accompany these events, there is a 20 page Directory
Glass News 28 July 2010 Booklet, available free from the website. It includes
details on glass-related buildings, sites and museums and
information on virtually every glassmaker working in
Scotland. A book Scotland’s Glass: 400 years of
Glassmaking by Shiona Airlie and Brian J R Blench, is
also available from www.cortex-design.co.uk for
£14.99.

2

Association Francaise pour l’Archeologie Verre et Histoire
du Verre (AFAV) Metz 2011
Forthcoming meetings
18th-19th November
Metz, Lorraine This association in France provides a forum for different
disciplines interested in the history of glass to exchange
At the 26th annual meeting of the AFAV, participants research and ideas and develop a better understanding of
from France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and glass. It organises regular conferences, debates, study
Luxemburg, including archaeologists, researchers and days, visits and demonstrations covering all aspects of
conservators, will exchange data and ideas relating to the history of glass.
the history of glass. The aim is to compare the results of
research on both sides of the borders of Belgium, For further details see the website: www.verre-
Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and France. histoire.org or email [email protected].

For more information see www.afaverre.fr There is also a series of useful bibliographies on the
website, themed by period.
Society of Glass Technology
Annual Meeting 2010 Tiffany Treasures: Favrile Glass from
Special Collections
The Society of Glass Technology’s Annual meeting will
be held on 8-10 September 2010 at Murray Edwards Until 31st October 2010
College, Cambridge University. The meeting The Corning Museum of Glass, New York
incorporates the New Research Forum on Glass, History
and Heritage of Glass, Science and Technology Sessions This exhibition showcases nearly 60 hand-wrought
and Workshops. pieces designed by Tiffany made at his glasshouse in
Corona, NY, between 1895 and 1920.
The History and Heritage day will run from 10am until
6pm, and features: __________________________________________________
! Dedo von Kerssenbrock-Krosigk: The Glass
Neighbours and Heirs of Rome
Collection at Düsseldorf
! Colin Brain: The Evidence for the Early Thursday 19th and Friday 20th May 2011
The Kings Manor, York, UK
Development of British Flint Glass
! Anna Marie Roos: A Speculum of Chymical AHG are planning an exciting two-day conference for
2011, as well as the usual programme of study days.
Practice: Isaac Newton, Martin Lister (1639–1712),
and the Making of Telescopic Mirrors Offers of papers are welcome. Please send a title and
! Stephen Pollock Hill: A Possible Solution to The short abstract to Sandra Davison (Hon Secretary) by
Thousand Year Old Mystery of The Portland Vase email ([email protected]) by 31st January 2011.
! Márcia Vilarigues: Stained glass from the Convent
of Christ in Tomar, Portugal: history and Further details, including the full programme, will be
characterization included in the next issue of Glass News and on the
! Martina Bertini: Chemical analysis of Iron Age website in due course.
Glass Beads
! Robin Murdoch: History of Glassmaking in __________________________________________________
Scotland
! Ian Hankey: Looking to the past for a sustainable AHG Spring Meeting 2011
future. The development of small studio glass
furnaces Thursday 24th March
! Ruth Cooke, Jonathan Cooke and David Martlew:
The Savile Chapel window at Thornhill: project For this meeting there will be a visit to Nazeing
update Glassworks, Herts (visit the wesbite at
http://www.nazeing-glass.com). The day will cost
There is also a poster session over lunch. See £39.50 and includes a buffet lunch. For more details
www.societyofglasstechnology.org.uk for further contact: Sandra Davison (Hon. Sec.).
details. 68 East Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3JS
Email: [email protected]
Glass News 28 July 2010
3

AHG Grants Museum, and Liz James, Director of the Leverhulme
International Network for the Composition of Byzantine
Grants are available from the Association for the History Glass Mosaic Tesserae (University of Sussex).
of Glass, for educational or research activities consistent
with the Association’s charitable aims. These could There was an international flavour, with about 20
include, for example, attendance at a conference to presentations including some excellent overview papers,
present a lecture or poster, a study visit, fieldwork, or for example by Cristina Boschetti on Glass tesserae
publication of scholarly works. across the ages and Ian Freestone on The composition,
production and trade of glass in Late Antiquity. A
There are no restrictions on who may apply or on the number of speakers discussed particular pieces in depth,
topics of applications, which will be judged on merit. such as Jaś Elsner on The Lycurgus Cup and Irina
Multiple applications in different years will be Andreescu-Treadgold on The Christ head at the
considered with individual awards up to £500. See also Metropolitan Museum and other mosaic fakes in
the AHG website for details museums. Other speakers focussed on finds from
(www.historyofglass.org.uk). particular sites, including Fatma Marii who spoke on
Glass tesserae from the Petra Church.
An application form may be downloaded from the
website, or obtained from: During breaks in the proceedings, Chris Entwistle hosted
Sandy Davison, AHG Hon Secretary, group viewings of the Lycurgus cup (see photos on page
68 East Street, Thame, 1 and below). The amazing workmanship could be
Oxfordshire OX9 3JS. appreciated all the more because of the preceding lively
Email: [email protected] debate about how this object was made and functioned.

OBITUARY An appreciative crowd around the Lycurgus cup

Dr John L Gower Glass for vessels, glass for windows:
medieval glass 1066-1550
1950-2010
23rd March 2010
It is with regret that we announce the death in March of The Wallace Collection
Dr. John L. Gower, who was a long standing member of
our glass association. John was awarded a Ph.D. in The AHG spring study day was also a great success. The
Chemistry from the University of Wales and his main mixture of scientific, typological and art historical
interests were the Romano–British period, as evidenced papers ensured good attendance and lively discussions
by his membership of the Roman Finds Group and the throughout the day. The presentations were entertaining
Roman Pottery Studies Group. and clear, which was essential given the diverse
disciplines represented in the audience. Speakers
On behalf of the AHG we extend our sympathies to his included Rachel Tyson’s overview of Glass vessels and
widow, Mrs. Marian Gower. medieval society, Caroline Jackson on How medieval
glass was made and Anna Eavis on Making stained
Meeting reviews glass windows in the medieval period.

New Light on Old Glass: The full programme and abstracts can be found on the
Byzantine Glass and Mosaics AHG website www.historyofglass.org.uk

27-29 May 2010 4
British Museum

This very enjoyable and well attended conference was
spread over three days although I was only able to attend
on the Friday and Saturday. The conference was
organised by Chris Entwistle, Curator of the Late
Roman and Byzantine Collections at the British

Glass News 28 July 2010