The Roman Empire is recognized for building a great civilization with renowned artistic, architectural, and technological achievements. At its peak, Rome conquered and controlled the entire area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, including Israel of today. However, one of the lesser-known, and certainly more beautiful achievements of this great empire was the creation of Roman glass.
During this time, more than 2,000 years ago, the Romans established the industrialization of glass-making in and around Jerusalem. Due to its strategic location and an abundance of sand along the Mediterranean coast, Israel served as a major glass-making center on an international level; distributing glassware throughout the Mediterranean and Europe.
Glass was primarily used for the production of vases and vessels, although mosaic tiles and window glass were also produced as the process increased in popularity. Although Roman glass is not much different than most other types of glass, it was made on a much larger scale.
The main feature that makes Roman glass so attractive to modern buyers is its age. The majority of this special glass dates back to the first century or earlier. However, it's more than age that marks the material as unique. Being buried for nearly two thousand years tends to have an effect on things, and this case is no exception.
Roman Glass is similar to bronze or copper in terms of how it develops a patina as it ages. After centuries of being buried in the mineral-rich soil of Israel, the natural oxidation process creates various shades of blues and greens, purples, and pinks. As the exact coloration depends on the minerals and conditions the glass was exposed to, no two pieces are alike. It is a unique kind of beauty that cannot be manufactured elsewhere.
While much of the remaining in-tact glass artifacts are owned by the Israeli government, who often studies it or displays it in museums, the fragments and broken shards of glass uncovered during these excavations have been collected by jewelers and artists to be restored and modernized for us to appreciate today.
Our handcrafted collection of necklaces, pendants, earrings, and rings, gives you an opportunity to hold onto a piece of ancient history. Designed and created to be handed down from generation to generation - each piece is individually shaped and carefully placed in the finest hand-crafted sterling silver or 9K gold setting by skilled artisans - continuing the legacy and story of the ancient glass for centuries to come.
