Glass: A Short History

Illustrated with 120 superb pieces, Glass: A Short History brings to life a centuries-old craft that has served many purposes, styles, and cultures. Until the first century BC, glass was made only in Western Asia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean regions; its manufacture then spread to China and other areas. The peoples of the Roman Empire included the most versatile glassmakers�in the ancient world, leading to both widely available low-cost �glassware and stunning �luxury glass. During �the Middle Ages, Islamic glassworkers �decorated �their fine cut glass with gilding and brilliant enamel. In the�15th century, the focus of luxury glassmaking shifted to Venice. Glassmaking �in Europe �was transformed again in the�17th��century, when thick-walled �objects with cut and engraved ornament were in great demand.

By the nineteenth century, �glassmaking was well established in America, where, as in Europe, industrial processes were developed to supply the rapidly expanding population with glassware for daily use. Within the past�50 years glass has gained acceptance as a medium for artistic expression, and the Studio Glass Movement, born in the United �States, has inspired artists all over the world to explore its unique properties. Glass tells this sweeping story from ancient times to the present in an accessible text with gorgeous examples.