Ancient Egyptian Glass
Glass was regularly being produced both in Egypt and the Near East by around 1500 BC. It was a prestige product, almost always strongly coloured, and used as a substitute for semi-precious stones, especially lapis lazuli and turquoise, which in many cases it closely resembled. It was used for the production of beads and small statues, but perhaps the “signature” object in the material was the core-formed glass vessel.
From very early on, this glass is being transported over large distances in the form of ingots, vessels and other finished objects.
Evidence from text, pictorial relief and archaeology show that it formed an important part of practice of competitive gift giving that took place between neighbouring states in the Late Bronze Age Near East and Eastern Mediterranean.
This glass is being extensively studied to determine how and where it was made, how it was used and its cultural and social significance for the people who used it. This has resulted in the publication of several papers in relevant learned journals including "Archaeometry"
The illustration is the back of one of the inlaid thrones from the Tomb of Tutankhamen, now in the Cairo Museum.
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Dr Andrew J Shortland
T: +44 (0)1793 785642
E: a.shortland@cranfield.ac.uk
Centre for Archaeological and Forensic Analysis
Centre for Forensic Anthropology Research
