106 Ofi the Mamifacture of Glass ^ Porcelain, <§*c. 



One of the most remarkable inventions of a remote era, and 

 one with which the Egyptians appear to have been acquainted, 

 at least as early as the reign of the first Osirtasen, upwards of 

 8500 years ago, is that of glass-blowing. The process is re- 

 presented in the paintings of Beni Hassan, executed during 

 the reign of that monarch, and his immediate successors ; and 

 the same is again repeated, in other parts of Egypt, in tombs 

 of various epochs. 



Part I. 



Pait 2. 



No. 349. 



Part 1. Glass-blowers. 

 2. The same. 



Beni Hassan. 

 Thebes. 



The glass at the end of the blowpipe h b, is coloured green. 

 a is the fire. d a glass bottle. 



The form of the bottle, and the use of the blowpipe, are 

 unequivocally indicated in those subjects ; and the green hue 

 of the fused material, taken from the fire at the point of the 

 pipe, cannot fail to shew the intention of the artist. But if the 

 sceptic should feel disposed to withhold his belief on the autho- 

 rity of a painted representation, and deny that the use of glass 

 could be proved on such evidence, it may be well to remind 

 him, that images of glazed pottery were common at the same 

 period, that the vitrified substance with which they are covered 



