Book : Modern Glass Inspired by Ancient Rome

Reflecting Antiquity: Modern Glass Inspired by Ancient Rome 234 pages color photos Soft cover 27 x 21 cm 1,001 kg English A catalog for the 2007 exhibition of the same name, this book examines the role that archaeology played in vitalizing the modern glass industry. As archeological exploration began in Italy and elsewhere around the Mediterranean in the 18th and 19th centuries, fragmentary and whole glass vessels were uncovered along with many other material remains. Modern glassmakers were astounded at the rich variety of glass vessels that had been manufactured in antiquity, using techniques that were unfamiliar to them. They set about replicating these ancient techniques, first by trying to reproduce Roman masterpieces such as the Portland Vase, and then by interpreting them anew with their own designs and shapes. The results of this experimentation led to the formation of such commercial endeavors as the English cameo glass industry, the Rheinische Glashütten A.G. in Ehrenfeld, and the Compagnia di Venezia e Murano (C.V.M.) in Venice. This rediscovery continues today as glassmakers and scientists study the techniques and materials used by ancient glassmakers.