The mass production of glass in Ancient Rome prompted the development of glass jewellery. The ageing process of glass endows Roman glass jewellery with unique qualities. For instance, contaminants manufactured into the glass and exposure to the surrounding environment for thousands of years, result in beautiful lustres and speckling where the glass may have formerly been transparent.
The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, for it provided a public display of wealth. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads. But as the power of the Roman empire spread, jewellery designs became increasingly elaborate. Different cultural styles from Greece, Egypt, North Africa and the Orient were all incorporated to reflect Rome’s prosperity and dominance.
To find out more about Roman glass please see our relevant blog posts: Ancient Glass and Collecting Roman Glass.
