Roman Glass—A Shopper’s Delight

February 1, 2010

Though Roman glass can be found in many countries across the former Roman Empire, the largest quantities have been found in Israel’s Judean Desert. Israel’s western border along the shores of the Mediterranean, in fact, made the region one of the largest glass producers in the Empire. The earliest evidence of glassblowing, dating from 37 to 4 BC, was actually found in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

So, when you take such an ancient, historical item of Second Temple times and combine it with Jewish symbols like the Star of David, a buyer can possess a very rare piece of history—as well as a gorgeous piece of jewelry.

The History of Glass

Glass was first produced by nature when rocks melted as a result of volcanic eruptions, lightning, or falling meteorites and then cooled and solidified rapidly. The earliest man-made finds are clear-glass beads, dated as early as 3500 BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Later, glazes for pots and vases were made from the raw materials of glass, and the sea-faring Phoenicians spread the art along the Mediterranean coastline. The first glassmaking “manual” dates back to around 650 BC, found in tablets from the library of an Assyrian king.

But it wasn’t until the time of the Roman Empire—with its vast political conquests, ingenious roadway network, and trade relations—that glassmaking spread throughout the known world, until glass products were not just the possession of the wealthy but were found in every Roman household. In fact, Roman glassworks even made it all the way to China, via the spice route. But a Syrian invention, some time between 27 BC and AD 14, also helped spread glassworks: glassblowing. Until this time, glass was molded, but glassblowing was much quicker and inexpensive.

In the last century BC, the Romans began blowing glass inside molds, greatly increasing the variety of shapes possible for hollow glass items. By the mid-first century AD, clay products were almost nonexistent. At first, glass-blown products had strong colors, which came from impurities in the sand or added minerals. However, by the late first century AD, colorless glass was the most popular.

Beware of Fakes!

Yes, even the natural coloring of Roman glass can be faked! Sometimes the reproductions are made from old light bulbs or even plastic. In a photo, they may look very real, but experts say when in-hand, the forgeries are easily detected. The fake pieces are most often dull or have a matt finish, which is not characteristic of the shine of a real piece. Also, true patina leaves an uneven texture, which a fake does not possess. Shoppers are warned not to purchase such an item off Internet sites and to make sure a purchase is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity.

Of course, the best place to do your shopping is in Israel! So, don’t delay, buy that airline ticket and write Roman glass jewelry on the top of your shopping list—just one more good excuse to visit Israel!

By Charleeda Sprinkle, Assistant Editor

 

Photo Credit: Daniel Kirchhevel

Photo Credit: Daniel Kirchhevel