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Around 4000 B.C., the Egyptians discovered that sand and ashes, heated together, created something both beautiful and useful: glass. The Egyptians first used glass to make beads and amulets to ward off evil spirits. Then, a few thousand years later, the Syrians created a method known as |
glass-blowing, where they could shape hot glass into an array of shapes and objects.
Jump ahead to the Roman Empire, when artisans began making bottles to hold oil, wine, and other liquids, as well as glass windows for the wealthy. A true innovation took place during the Middle Ages, when glass factories and craftsmen began to make colored glass for church windows. By the fifteenth century, glass workers in Venice developed something that went beyond practical use and into the aesthetic realm: they called it cristallo, because it looked like the natural stone known as rock crystal.
Soon, glass-making spread throughout Europe and master |
craftsmen sprang up in a number of countries. The Germans made a thick glass suitable for wheel engraving. The English produced a glass that was both heavy and brilliant, which became the basis for the first drinking glasses. By 1745, glass had become such a commodity that tax was levied on it according to its weight.
Today, glass is an integral part of our lives. It gives us glasses to see better, windows to protect our homes, art to enliven our souls. Glass-made items also make for a special gift or “thank you” for a job well done. Let Your Brand Here show you how the legacy of the Egyptians can translate into a legacy for your brand.
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