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19th century pressed glass gobletsAlthough glass was known from the late Bronze Age, the Egyptians, then the Greeks and the Romans developed glassmaking for domestic use. The Greeks perfected the technique of molding glass in the second century B.C.E. and by the first century B.C.E., the art of glass blowing was widespread. Glass, however, was generally owned by the wealthy classes as art and tableware. Glass has been found in Indus Valley archeological sites dating from 1730 B.C.E. The first "stained glass" was produced in Southwest Asia by Muslim architects in the eighth century. The Arabs pioneered the science of optics with Ibn al-Haytham's "Book of Optics," published in the 11th century. In addition to inventing stained glass, they fabricated the first mirrors and parabolic reflectors. The Venetian glass of the 14th century set the standard for fine glass, and glass from the island of Murano is still considered some of the finest in the world. The Germans perfected the art of making sheet glass in the 11th century, and a 17th century English glassmaker substituted lead oxide for potash to create brilliant "full lead crystal." Just as the English were perfecting fine crystal, the French were developing glass mirrors that reflected accurately. During the 19th century, major advances in the production of glass made it possible to mass produce "pressed" and "cut" glassware for domestic use. In the 1920s, new molding technology was developed. As production methods improved for flat glass and tableware, more people were able to afford to use glass for windows, tableware and other home items. -
Glass and crystal tumblersGlass may be blown, molded, pressed or cut. Leaded crystal is the most brilliant type of glass, and fine glassware is made of this brittle mixture, making it very fragile. Art glass is made in every variety imaginable, but domestic glassware is generally more humble. Vases, plates, serving dishes and drinking glasses are all implements made for today's home. -
Seams on molded glassWhat we call glass is an inorganic solid that has been super-heated then cooled, forming a transparent, rigid solid. Most glass is made from silica, fused with sodium carbonate, lime and trace amounts of magnesium and aluminum oxides. Basically, glass is quartz that has not been allowed to crystallize. Special glass uses other ingredients like lead for fine crystal, boron for glass that has a high tolerance for heat and chemicals that help process recycled glass. -
Glass stemwareCut glass sparkles because of its sharp edges. Lead crystal is the clearest of all glass and "sings" when it's tapped. Modern glassmakers use the same coloring agents as 14th century Venetian craftsmen---copper for green glass, cobalt for blue, sulfur for amber and obsidian for black and purple. -
Molded glassUse spotless glass to light up a table. Crystal or etched glass lends style to a table setting, provided the patterns used blend well with china and silverware. Crystal candlesticks or candelabra dress up a table and can be used for semi-formal as well as formal occasions.
