THE early history of glass manufacture in Britain is decidedly obscure. The earliest specimens of the art extant are certain coloured beads, known as “aggry” beads. Many of these exist, some probably of Phœnician origin, others dating from the Roman occupation of Britain—being made either by the Romans themselves or by a British craftsman under Roman tuition.
There can be little doubt that the Romans did introduce the making of glass into this country, for glass was an indispensable adjunct to Roman life. Moreover, it was the custom for the conqueror to train the conquered in his own arts, and the Roman handicrafts followed the Roman Eagle. In any case, the art of glass-making had, according to Pliny, extended to Gaul, and there seems no reason why it should not also have crossed the Channel. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that it did.
There is, however, evidence that glass-making was carried on in Anglo-Saxon times—many specimens of Anglo-Saxon bead-work, etc., having been found in barrows, tumuli, and burying-places in general. They are composed of an opaque, vitreous paste—which in places approaches translucency. Unfortunately, the materials employed were impure, and the material has consequently disintegrated with time, making it a matter of exceeding difficulty to determine its original texture and appearance. The decoration, both as regards colouring and design, is primitive. The colour is crude, and the patterns consist mainly of simple geometrical figures, circles, chevrons, stripes, spirals, and so forth.
Possibly after the Roman withdrawal in 410, the art fell into abeyance, as did much of the civilisation imposed by the Romans, reviving again when the various Anglo-Saxon units began to develop a civilisation of their own, and to pass through various confederacies into a single kingdom.
Bede writes that in 675 “Benedict Biscop” sent for glass-workers from France to glaze the windows of the church at Wearmouth, and that they taught the English their handicraft, making not only windows but vessels.
The art must, however, have survived in certain places, for numbers of vessels which can be referred, on the authority of illuminated MSS., etc., to Saxon times, are in existence. Such specimens include (a) vases, ornamented with ribs and applied lobes. These are probably of German origin, and were introduced into Britain by the Saxon invaders. (b) Trumpet-shaped cups, ribbed, or stringed, or fluted. These have no base on which to stand, and are probably of English manufacture, dating from the latter half of the sixth century, (c) The third type is the “palm” cup, shaped so as to be conveniently held in the palm of the hand, having no bottom on which to stand; and (d) bowls of various shapes. The palm cups and bowls belong to the eighth and ninth centuries, and later. It should be remembered that the dates given can only be roughly approximate, and that the various periods fuse one into the other, so that there is no definite line of demarcation. Moreover, there is no definite proof that glass vessels were made in England during Saxon times, save only such
Fig. 38.
Saxon Glass.—1, 2, 3, Trumpet Cups; 4, a Ribbed and Lobed Vase; 5-9, Palm Cups and Vases.