elieve that the ass developed History tory period oflass time of Glass ed by countless o archaeologass is believed covered over ars ago in Mestorical region of soon after was where the first cover feature
By Gabrielle Tieman-Lee I Photos by AJ Harlond
or centuries, glass has been used as a material for creative expression. From delicate, intricate pieces to grand architectural design elements, glass has long been viewed as a symbol of elegance and power. Today, glass has evolved from a meager molten tool into the boundless creative material used commonly in modern architecture and design. Many scholars believe that the ability to make glass developed over a prolonged period of time and was influenced by countless eras; according to archaeological evidence, glass is believed to have been discovered over four thousand years ago in Mesopotamia – a historical region of Western Asia. It soon after was found in Egypt, where the first man made glass bottles have been uncovered – dating back to 1450 BC. In ancient times glass creation was slow and tedious process; indicated by findings from this era – pieces which were delicate and rarely translucent like modern glass. It is believed that for the next 500 years, Egypt, Syria and other countries along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea were the main centers for glass manufacturing; with glassmakers in Syria prospering during this time – specializing in plain bowls of single, brilliant colours. Evidence of this can also be found in the glass beads characteristic to the Hindu culture of roughly 200 BC – which were discovered in excavations. It was not until the 1st Century BC that Syrian craftsmen are said to have invented the blow pipe iron [used to direct streams of gases into the molten glass] which allowed for greater manipulation of the material. This revolutionary discovery made glass production easier, faster and cheaper and more readily available to the masses for purchase. These techniques are still used today – including the use of a blowing iron for crafting a blob of molten glass and rolling it into a suitable shape. This shape could then be blown inside a
REVEAL REVEALNiagara NiagaraBusiness Leisure Magazine • Volume 21 Issue 12 • 2019
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