A history of glass

Windows, bottles, ornaments, we all come into contact with glass on a daily basis. However, most people know little about glass, how we came to use it and all the amazing properties it holds.

Glass has been made and used for thousands of years, and can be traced back to 3500 BC, in Mesopotamia, where it was considered a luxury material. This began a rapid growth of glass-making technology, with new items being created such as glass beads and vessels, and different oxides being introduced to create new colours of glass. This became the very basis of glass-making as we know it today.

Fast-forward to the medieval period, and glass is being experimented with in new creative ways, becoming a prominent decorative feature in this era. Windows went from being just a means to let light in, to a feature such as stain-glass windows, seen in many churches depicting biblical scenes. This idea has been adopted by many today, with many homes opting for decorative stain-glass windows or front doors.streaming film Nocturnal Animals

Glass technology radically advanced during the Industrial Revolution, with the incredible advancements in the producing of glazing materials. Glass was becoming easier to manufacture on a larger scale, and with the addition of new construction materials, this meant that larger glass façades could be held in place. Suddenly there were endless possibilities as to what glass can be used for, inspiring the first designs of many now recognisable buildings such as greenhouses and conservatories.

One of the earliest examples of glass being used architecturally is The Crystal Palace, built in 1851. This is one of the most famous large scale glass projects, made up of 300,000 panes of glass. This building inspired architects to be more inventive with glass in construction. Instead of glass being used to open up a structure, glass could now be used to create the structure itself.

Today, the development of glass is at an all time high, with skyscrapers dominating the skyline in iconic cities around the world. These modern innovations can also be used today beneficially within the home, with glazing solutions – such as your conservatory, sun room and orangery – which can save home owners money on energy bills and promote energy efficiency.