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Exhibition offers window into glass history
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IN Hangzhou, one doesn’t have to search too hard for exhibitions dedicated to ancient porcelains, silks, bronze vessels or coins.
Far rarer though are displays of glass antiques. Glass making never truly flourished as a distinctive art form in ancient China, though glass was made in the country as early as the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC).
This contrasts sharply with Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, where distinctive glass making traditions developed across a multitude of cultures. Over the centuries, these traditions were passed down and refined by generations of craftspeople.
Now, more than 200 glassworks from the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague are on display at the Wulin Pavilion of the Zhejiang Museum through September 30. The show contains glass works from the Czech Republic, as well as several other countries and civilizations.
The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague was established in 1885 and contains nearly half a million pieces, ranging from timepieces and porcelains to furniture and embroidery. It also boasts one of the largest collections of art from the region of Bohemia.
The exhibition is divided into sections according to time period. The first and smallest section introduces artifacts from the ancient world.
The earliest examples of glass can be found on the glass glazes covering ceramic artifacts dated to over 5,000 years ago to Mesopotamia. It wasn’t until 1600 BC though that objects made entirely of glass first appeared in the archaeological record.
Glassblowing technique invented by the Phoenician were a major breakthrough for the glassmaking industry. Afterward, batches of large and delicate glassworks came into being. Present-day Syria was an early mass production center, and from here glassmaking techniques gradually disseminated.
The exhibition contains handicrafts discovered around the Mediterranean, namely in present-day France, Italy and Egypt. Most of them date to 2400 years ago.
The second section showcases glassmaking developments during the Middle Ages (476-1453). Thanks to connections between the eastern Mediterranean and Western Europe, glass production gradually shifted into Germany, northern France and Italy at this time.
Craftsmen dyed glass with colored pigments and shaped them into bowls and beakers. Medieval glasses were also made into elaborate church windows depicting stories from the Bible for illiterate worshippers.
One exhibited set of stained-glass panes depicts a miner at work. It was originally installed in the Church of Saint Barbara in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. It also features a coat of silver paint and is gilded with black enamel.
Kunta Hora was rich in silver resources which provided local elites with ample capital to decorate their houses with expensive colored glass.
The third section displays glassworks from the Renaissance. It was during this period in Venice that the first glasswares integrating millefiori and filigree techniques were produced in the 15th century. Such methods later spread throughout Europe.
When glass sculpture and incision took off in the late 17th century, Caspar Lehmann, a celebrated handicraftsman, adapted the techniques of using copper and bronze wheels to engrave gems onto glass. He was among the earliest modern glass engravers to develop both advanced techniques and a personal style.
During the same period, enamels were commonly applied in glassmaking. A displayed beer vessel made of bluish-green glass with a tin base uses enamel to depict the four early evangelists. Floral and herbal patterns decorate the rim. Another vessel discovered in Bohemia also features an enameled painting of a clergyman and a cuckoo.
The fourth section showcases glass handicrafts made during Baroque and Rococo Periods. One exhibited bottle, embossed with an image of St Wenceslas and floral patterns, is part of a travel kit that would have been used by Bohemian officials.
In addition to colorless glass, artisans also created “agate glass” by adding metallic elements into their materials. Such glasswares feature a porcelain finish and a jade-like glow.
One eye-catching artifact in this section is a plaque with Chinese elements. This 18th century piece features Chinese people, buildings and cranes. Its creation was inspired by John Nieuhoff’s travels in China during the 17th century.
Another set of Chinese-style pieces appears in the fifth section — glassworks made in the early 19th century. There’s a dessert plate, cup and saucer dyed black and then given an obsidian finish similar to those found on Chinese lacquer wares. There’s also a Chinese dragon painted in the center of the plate.
Another artifact is a yellow Chinese-style vase with traditional ink painting style patterns. It was made in 1885 and reflected European society’s fascination at that time with the Orient.
The sixth section displays Art Nouveau glassworks. Starting from the late 19th century, craftsmen began to produce colorful glassworks by adding more metallic elements. By this point, glasses were no longer limited to tableware, panes and vases; they were used to produce lamps and embedded with sophisticated geometric patterns.
Date: Through September 30, except Mondays
Venue: Wulin Pavilion Zhejiang Museum
Admission: Free
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