As the Roman Empire progressed and expanded, glass production evolved dramatically, becoming one of the Empire’s leading commercial industries. The vitriarii, glassmakers, had been introduced to the glassblowing method which was used to expand their repertoire of shapes and designs significantly. As a consequence, Roman glass was then used as a great trading commodity across the whole of the known world. Glassblowing allowed different shapes and designs to be forged, the walls were able to become thinner creating a more translucent appearance. Different coloured glass was created by adding different metals during the process.
The beaker did not appear before the Roman period, and it only began to be manufactured for everyday use with the invention of glassblowing. Roman beakers were usually plain, but some were decorated. In addition to functioning as drinking vessels, they also served as containers for various kinds of foods and ointments, as well as often serving as lamps. Like other utilitarian vessels, the beakers exhibited the same shapes over a long period of time, and they were probably manufactured in a number of production centres, not merely one.
To find out more about Ancient Roman glass please visit our relevant blog post: Ancient Glass
