Blue-tinted glass

Klaus the Red · Post by **Klaus the Red** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 11:57 am

Quick toss-out to the hive mind: has anyone seen evidence for everyday glass drinking vessels circa 1300 - 1500 with a distinct blue color? All the surviving examples, when they have a color, appear to be green. The Romans used blue glass, as did the Anglo-Saxons, and there's the odd luxury vessel in the 16th century and later, so I suspect late medieval usage isn't totally beyond the pale- but I have no solid documentation.The reason I'm curious is that there are quite a few antique blown "twist" glasses kicking around eBay that have a nice period profile, but the majority are blue (cobalt in the sand, I gather).

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:38 pm

"They also make goblets of purple or light blue" Theophilus "Divers Arts" pg 60 in my Dover CSS Smith translation circa 1120 AD

Klaus the Red · Post by **Klaus the Red** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 11:12 pm

Thanks- who are "they" to whom he refers?

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:59 am

I assume you will source the source rather relying on hearsay....but "The Byzantines" and so probably an upscale trade item.

woodwose · Post by **woodwose** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 8:26 am

The book "Medieval Glass for Popes, Princes, and Peasants" from the Corning Museum of Glass has quite a lot of light blue stuff in it.

Ernst · Post by **Ernst** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:12 am

Here you go:
http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1223/1/1223_v1 ... hOS%20(BL)

Cobalt or copper oxide can be used for blue, though it's often limited to decorative trails or threads.

http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the ... rch/462874

A pale blue one at the Met in the background.
http://ancientglass.wordpress.com/6-gla ... t-the-met/

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/ ... tails.aspx

Klaus the Red · Post by **Klaus the Red** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 10:08 am

Thanks, all! My sense is that blue was not so common as green, but definitely out there. Good enough for off-the-cuff documentation.

Nathan Hartman · Post by **Nathan Hartman** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 11:09 am

Making something fun and exciting Klaus?

Klaus the Red · Post by **Klaus the Red** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 11:26 am

Glass-blowing is not in my skill set, unfortunately, but I'm always looking for excuses to upgrade my household collection.

Nathan Hartman · Post by **Nathan Hartman** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 11:45 am

That works too

I need to talk to you at some point about garb, and the cleaning there-of. Is your email still the same?

Klaus the Red · Post by **Klaus the Red** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:48 pm

Yep, same email. Your two partly- finished linen tunics are still in my get-around-to-it pile. I will bump them to the top of the list whenever you are done settling in to your new home and ready to expand your summer wardrobe.

woodwose · Post by **woodwose** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:33 pm

A bit off topic, something I was thinking a while back... I have a small collection of period appropriate glassware. Sometimes I use pieces at home, occasionally take something to an SCA feast, but mostly it sits on display in a hutch because its somewhat expensive, fragile, and often difficult to find replacements.

I was thinking that it would be really cool if there was someone out there making reproduction glassware in plastic/acrylic/resin or whatever... I'd easily spend as much on durable plastic stuff as I have on glass just so I can feel better about using at events.

Klaus the Red · Post by **Klaus the Red** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 10:21 pm

I just encountered some of those at an event a couple of weeks ago. Something like this…
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products ... acet-_--_-

Nathan Hartman · Post by **Nathan Hartman** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:52 pm

Huh, those are nice looking. Kinda pricey, but you'll have that at Williams-Sonoma...

(I sent you an email by the way Klaus, did you see it? My work email has been sending emails on walkabout recently...)

Klaus the Red · Post by **Klaus the Red** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:57 pm

Just replied a few seconds ago.

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