From the early centuries AD glass became the favourite medium not only for vessels but also for pieces of jewellery. Glass would have been drawn and tolled to create elaborate or simple bangles and rings, set with carved gemstones. Because it was less expensive than luxurious materials but capable of imitating them, it was quickly adopted by the classes of society who wanted to follow the trends but could not afford to do so. Following the spread of the Roman Empire, Roman jewellery became more and more elaborate in the designs and in the materials used. It also allowed a new flexibility and artistic freedom, with glass now becoming a decorative luxury to rival pottery. It was this novel mass production of the material in imperial Rome that prompted the development of glass jewellery, though its valuable properties today derive in large part from the ageing process.
To find out more about Roman glass please see our relevant blog posts: Ancient Roman Glass and Collecting Roman Glass.
