Jug
1500-1525 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Glass is an ideal material to imitate semi-precious stones, and the ancient Romans were specialists at this. 'Calcedonia' glass was developed on the Venetian island of Murano around 1450. It was called after chalcedony, a naturally occurring hardstone. Details concerning its manufacture were kept secret for many decades. It involves mixing many different colours of glass in layers as well as a special heat treatment during blowing.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Calcedonio glass |
| Brief description | Jug, blown calcedonio glass, Italy (Venice), 16th century |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Gallery label | EWER
About 1580-1600
Venetian glassmakers were renowned throughout Europe for their skill. Here Roman glassmaking techniques have been used to make fragile glass look like chalcedony, a semi-precious stone. It is unlikely that the ewer was ever used. Instead, its owner would have seen it as a conversation piece, to be admired by friends.
Italy, Venice
Chalcedony glass
Museum no. 5575-1859(2008) |
| Summary | Glass is an ideal material to imitate semi-precious stones, and the ancient Romans were specialists at this. 'Calcedonia' glass was developed on the Venetian island of Murano around 1450. It was called after chalcedony, a naturally occurring hardstone. Details concerning its manufacture were kept secret for many decades. It involves mixing many different colours of glass in layers as well as a special heat treatment during blowing. |
| Other number | 8442 - Glass gallery number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 5575-1859 |
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| Record created | December 13, 1997 |
| Record URL |
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