April, 1 9 13 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



i33 



HE making of glass is surrounded with 

 mystery, few industries having greater 

 antiquity. The earliest records found are 

 those of sailors who were shipwrecked near 

 the mouth of the River Belus, and who, 

 through the process of cooking the ashes 



of the herb kale and mixing it with sand, 

 formed a compound which was known 

 as glass. 



Thirty-five hundred years ago seems a 

 long time, for it was then that the Egyp- 

 tians excelled in their manufacture of this 

 product, being especially expert in the 

 use of the metallic oxides which were 

 used in glass coloring. 



This industry was introduced into 

 Rome during the reign of Tiberius, the 

 first clear glass coming, into use during 

 the reign of Xero. So interested was 

 he in its manufacture that he paid two 

 hundred and fifty thousand dollars for 

 two cups. The production drifted into 

 Bohemia and to Venice, the latter carry- 

 ing her products 

 all over the globe 

 and obtaining 

 enormous prices 

 for beautiful de- 

 signs. As an in- 

 dustry there was 

 nothing more dif- 



Decanter and glasses. 



ficult, and this fact made the Venetian workmen treated with 

 respect, the Government bestowing upon them the title of 

 Gentlemen. 



The fable of the Salamander had its birth in Venetian 

 factories. The credulous country people declared that in- 

 side the furnace was located a fiery dragon, who sallied 

 mm forth to destroy the unwary who were 

 bold enough to venture near the place. 

 Some, more courageous, peeped inside 

 the manhole of the furnace and verified 

 the story — in fact, it took such import- 

 ance that nobles rode forth to meet the 

 monster. 



The introduction of glass making into 

 England was at Crutched Friars, in 1557, 

 and gave a new industry in the world of 

 manufacture. The value of glass im- 

 mediately increased, and the work grew 

 apace, many of the pieces being unex- 

 celled in beauty. To be sure, English 

 glass lacks the delicacy of the Venetian 

 and has different markings, showing little 

 Gilt ornamentation of the florid nature of the German glass 



as well. Yet it is 

 an established 

 fact that the glass 

 of this country 

 possesses charac- 

 teristics that are 

 very real and last- 

 ing. England was 



English goblet toddy glasses and "barrel" goblet from the Waters collection 



