Glass Made in antiquity

Glass is one of the most intriguing materials we know, combining a number of attractive properties. Sometimes its colours are mesmerizingly beautiful, at other times we wonder at its transparency. It seldom reacts with other substances and so does not absorb odours. A disadvantage is its fragility. But it does recycle well — something the ancients already knew (and put to good use?). For them too, – particularly in Roman times – glass played an important role in everyday life. Think of bottles that held oil or wine. Or small flasks intended for scented oil.

Amsterdam’s Allard Pierson has a rich collection of archaeological glass. In recent years, several pieces have been researched, chiefly focusing on its technical aspects. How was glass made and what are its constituent elements? This book not only catalogues  Allard Pierson’s rich collection of archaeological glass; it also includes several articles about a range of exciting new research on glass from antiquity.

About the author

René van Beek (1958) studied classical archaeology at the University of Amsterdam. After his studies, he spent several years excavating in Turkey before becoming curator of the Classical World at the Allard Pierson Museum (Collections of the University of Amsterdam).There, he is mainly concerned with Roman culture and the museum’s collection of plaster casts after classical statues. As a glass lover and connoisseur of this fascinating material, he has spent the last few years intensively researching the museum’s ancient glass collection.

Exhibition in the Allard Pierson Museum

In the exhibition ‘Glass, Made in Antiquity’ you will discover more than 200 glass objects from the archaeology collection of the Allard Pierson Museum. Transparent or opaque, in bright or soft colours, elegantly decorated and unique in shape; it is astonishing that the fragile material has remained so beautiful for centuries. Equally special is the craftsmanship with which the glass utensils and ornaments have been made. In recent years, the latest research methods have been used to fathom the technical aspects of glass from Antiquity. In the exhibition you can enjoy the beauty of the collection and learn more about the refined production methods of glass in Antiquity.

The exhibition can be viewed in the Allard Pierson Museum Amsterdam from 16 May 2025 to 1 March 2026.