Glassware

Glass in this period was formed around a core or cast and cut; glassblowing was a later Syrian invention. We have a series of texts with recipes for glassmaking from Nimrud (you can find them in translation and original on the ORACC Glass project). The ancients often saw glass and similar substances as imitations of precious stones like lapis-lazuli and rock crystal. Unfortunately, glass is a fragile material, and decays in wet contexts.

• A. Leo Oppenheim, Robert H. Brill, Dan Barag, and Axel von Saldern, Glass and Glassmaking in Ancient Mesopotamia: An Edition of the Cuneiform Texts Which Contain Instructions for Glassmakers: With a Catalogue of Surviving Objects. Corning, NY: Corning Museum of Glass, 1970 (reprinted 1988).
• Despina Ignatiadou, “Achaemenid and Greek Colourless Glass.” In J. Curtis and J. Simpson (eds.), The World of Achaemenid Persia, pp. 419–26. London: British Museum, 2010
• Despina Ignatiadou, Διαφανής ύαλος για την αριστοκρατία της αρχαίας Μακεδονίας. Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού και Αθλητισμού. Αρχαιολογικό Ινστιτούτο Μακεδονικών και Θρακικών Σπουδών Δημοσιεύματα, 13. Thessaloniki: Αρχαιολογικό Ινστιτούτο Μακεδονικών και Θρακικών Σπουδών, 2013
• Katharina Schmidt, Glass and Glass Production in the Near East during the Iron Age Period: Evidence from Objects, Texts and Chemical Analysis. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2019 http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2019/2019-09-55.html
• Karol B. Wight, Molten Color: Glassmaking in Antiquity (Los Angeles : J. Paul Getty Museum, 2011) Exhibition catalogue, probably has a Roman focus since more glass from later times survives.
• And an honourable mention to Ancient Glass: Blog of The Allaire Collection https://ancientglass.wordpress.com/2018/06/20/cast-and-cut-bowls-from-500bc-400bc-2/ {most of their collection is later but it still gives an overall feel for ancient glass}

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