Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Starting with the dawn of vessel glassmaking in the 2nd millenium BC and ending with the work of contemporary artists, Glass covers history, social uses, design, and techniques such as blowing and engraving. Highlights include miraculously preserved glass from ancient Egypt and Rome, masterpieces of Venetian Renaissance glass, and Baroque and Rococo glass from Europe. Also featured is the V&A's outstanding collection of British lead-crystal glass of the 18th and 19th centuries, the Art Nouveau glass of Galle and Lalique and the work of 20th-century artists and factories from Europe and the USA.
All types of glass are covered - drinking vessels, technical tours de force, spectacular exhibition pieces, decorative vases and works by contemporary glass artists - and techniques such as blowing and engraving are comprehensively explained. Special sections on subjects such as tableware, chandeliers and lighting, and mosque lamps are illustrated with engravings, paintings and designs as well as pieces from the V&A's wide-ranging collection, and to complete this fascinating account of the social and cultural uses of glass. The stunning photographs and informative text make this an indispensable book for collectors and all those with an interest in historic or contemporary glass.