The first glass used by humans was naturally occurring. Obsidian was employed by Stone Age peoples to craft tools and weapons. Since this material could not be found everywhere, a trade in obsidian naturally flourished. There is a lot of lore surrounding the origins of glass, largely due to the relative scarcity of naturally occurring glass. One such story is that a merchant ship with a cargo of nitrium was moored on the Belus River, where the sailors used chunks of nitrium to prop up their cooking pots. The heat of their cooking fires caused the nitrium to melt into the sand of the riverbank, causing glass to be formed. However, historical evidence shows us that glass was probably first made commercially in ancient Egypt. Egyptian glassmakers produced beads at first and it seems that glassmaking may have been an accidental discovery made by metalworkers. Once glassmaking was developed, glass became widely used for a variety of purposes.
The invention of glassblowing was nothing less than a revolution in glassmaking. Babylonian craftsmen deserve credit for popularizing the technique, although evidence of blown glass exists dating from as early as 50 BC. This is a technique of working with glass which has stayed largely unchanged since antiquity.
Over the centuries glass making would wax and wane until the 13th century. It was at this time that Venice became a glass-making center. It is believed that they may have learned the trade from their participation during the crusades from contact with Eastern countries. The interest in glass was revitalized and the advance continued. Venetian glass making process was so protected that the makers were forbidden to leave for fear the trade secrets would be discovered. To this day Venetian is a highly sought after antique form of glass. Eventually a glassmaker from Venice would make his way to England in order to teach the fine art of glass making.
Jacopo Verzelini was this glassmaker, who came to England in 1575 and brought great advances to English glassmaking. Queen Elizabeth granted Verzelini a patent for the Murano process of glassmaking. These techniques were then taken to the Americas by colonists, with the first American glass being produced in Jamestown, Virginia in 1608.
Glassmaking has steadily advanced since. In the early days of the United States, crown glass and lacing were commonly produced. Many improvements, particularly in the area of mass production were made during the industrial revolution. We tend to take glass and the protection from the elements which it gives us for granted. Without these glass windows, of course, we would not have the option to dress them up with decorative window coverings like vertical blinds. - 15615
The invention of glassblowing was nothing less than a revolution in glassmaking. Babylonian craftsmen deserve credit for popularizing the technique, although evidence of blown glass exists dating from as early as 50 BC. This is a technique of working with glass which has stayed largely unchanged since antiquity.
Over the centuries glass making would wax and wane until the 13th century. It was at this time that Venice became a glass-making center. It is believed that they may have learned the trade from their participation during the crusades from contact with Eastern countries. The interest in glass was revitalized and the advance continued. Venetian glass making process was so protected that the makers were forbidden to leave for fear the trade secrets would be discovered. To this day Venetian is a highly sought after antique form of glass. Eventually a glassmaker from Venice would make his way to England in order to teach the fine art of glass making.
Jacopo Verzelini was this glassmaker, who came to England in 1575 and brought great advances to English glassmaking. Queen Elizabeth granted Verzelini a patent for the Murano process of glassmaking. These techniques were then taken to the Americas by colonists, with the first American glass being produced in Jamestown, Virginia in 1608.
Glassmaking has steadily advanced since. In the early days of the United States, crown glass and lacing were commonly produced. Many improvements, particularly in the area of mass production were made during the industrial revolution. We tend to take glass and the protection from the elements which it gives us for granted. Without these glass windows, of course, we would not have the option to dress them up with decorative window coverings like vertical blinds. - 15615
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