The Glass Collection of the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
A selection of the glass collection ranging from the 2nd century BC to the Islamic period.
Dr. David Gordon Lyon, founding curator
The majority of the glass in this collection was purchased or excavated through the efforts of Dr. David Gordon Lyon, founding curator of the Harvard Semitic Museum (now known as the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East). He wanted to build a collection to teach the languages, cultures, and peoples of the Ancient Near East. The glassware represents a small but important part of the current collection that houses over 40,000 objects in total.
Core-formed vessels
Glass pieces were first created as highly decorative objects for the wealthy. Core-formed vessels, the first to be put into production, are very elaborate and multi-colored clearly meant as luxury items.
core formedHarvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Dark Blue Amphoriskos with Yellow, Turquoise and White Decoration (2nd - 1st century BC)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
This dark blue amphoriskos, or small jar, is a core-formed vessel created between the 2nd – 1st centuries BC.
Green Amphoriskos with Turquoise Decoration (5th century BC)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
This amphoriskos, or small jar, is a core-formed vessel created in the 5th century BC.
Perfume and cosmetic
As glass technology improved, the use of glass spread. These bottles, used for various cosmetics, unguents, and perfumes, are excellent examples of form and color demonstrating the changing trends found in the industry. Unlike core-formed vessels, artisans made these by using molded glass or blown-glass techniques.
blown glassHarvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Purple Bottle (1st century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
This purple jar was likely used for perfume or some other form of cosmetic.
Pale Olive Green Mercury Flask (1st - 4th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Bottles, like this pale olive-green example, were likely created by blowing the glass and using a mold to form the shape.
Colorless (?) Double Kohl Flask (4th - 5th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Double kohl flasks are named for the powdered eye makeup they probably contained.
Pale Green Balsamarium (7th - 8th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Elaborately shaped balsamariums like this example in the form of a four-legged animal were used to hold various kinds of cosmetics.
Tableware
With the development of cheaper and quicker production techniques like glassblowing, glass became the preferred material for drinking and serving vessels. Techniques were also created to remove all color from the glass creating clear glassware, which quickly became one of the most sought after commodities in the Roman Empire.
Pale Green Transparent Bowl (1st century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
As glass production advanced, bowls became commonly used tableware in households.
Pale Green Beaker (1st - 3rd century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
This slimmer, more cylindrical style of cup is known as a beaker.
Colorless Cup (1st - 3rd century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Although appearing to have a gold color, this cup’s tinting is the result of its age and not original to the vessel.
Pale Purple Flask (3rd - 4th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
This purple flask was used for holding various liquids during meals.
Pale Green Juglet with Darker Green Decoration (3rd - 5th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
This tableware juglet features an elaborate green handle.
Utilitarian, jewelry, lamps
Glass products became everyday items for many more purposes than just tableware and cosmetics. Other household storage and shipping vessels began to take advantage of the material. Glass even made its way back to being one of the materials of choice for jewelry. Glass oil lamps also appeared replacing the ceramic styles.
Mold madeHarvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Cast Green Opaque Monochrome Carinated Bowl (1st century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
This carinated glass bowl features an opaque, green coloration.
Blue Stirring Rod (2nd century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Ancient glassmakers used the material not only for vessels but also for tools like this stirring rod from the 2nd century AD.
Small Cobalt Jar (2nd - 3rd century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
As glass technology advanced, the ability to use vibrant colors grew as seen in this striking blue jar.
Pale Blue Bottle (4th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Featuring a tall, narrow shape, this bottle was created in the 4th century AD.
Pale Green (Colorless) Pilgrim Flask (3rd - 5th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
The use of flasks is not new as shown by this example from the 3rd to 5th centuries AD.
Pale Purple Jar (3rd - 5th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Purple seems to be one of the more popular colors demonstrated by this nearly complete example.
Pale Green Sprinkler (3rd - 5th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
This well-preserved object, known as a sprinkler, would have held scented oils or perfumes.
Black Bracelet with Traces of Green Decoration (1st - 4th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Glass was used not only for useful objects but also for jewelry like this bracelet.
Small Black Bracelet (6th - 7th century AD)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
This very well-preserved bracelet was made using a mold to create the ribbing.
Pale Blue Lamp (Islamic)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Glass lamps, like this object, burned oil like its ceramic predecessors.
Pale Blue Glass Lamp With Blue, Black and Gold Decoration (Islamic)Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
Islamic in origin, Arabic characters can be seen in the decorations of this lamp.
Content Development: Adam Middleton
Photographers: Shannon Vanderhooft, Meredith Keffer
Video Content Development: Marjorie S. Hilton, Carrie Van Horn, Samar Mohammad
Additional Research and Support Provided by the staff of the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
The Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East is a member of the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Bibliography:
Freestone, Ian C., Ruth E. Jackson-Tal, Itamar Taxel, Oren Tal. "Glass Production at an Early Islamic Workshop in Tel Aviv." Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 62 (2015): 45-54.
Jackson-Tal, Ruth E. "The Glass from the 1995 Excavations in Camp F at Masada: The Use of Luxury and Common Early Roman Glass in Military Context." Levant, Vol. 48, Issue 1 (2016): 63-78.
Khan, Lisa. "Herodian Innovation: The Glass Industry." Near Eastern Archaeology, Vol. 7, No. 2 (2014): 129-139.
Luckner, Kurt T. "Ancient Glass." Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies, Vol. 20 No. 1, Ancient Art at the Art Institute of Chicago (1994): 78-91.
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