T: Is for time long past

From about A.D 200 different styles of glass came from all parts of the Roman Empire. Thousands of bottles were made to hold oil, wine, and other liquids and they were often square in shape so that could be packed together conveniently without wasting space. In the villas of the rich, the windows had glass. Glass for ordinary use often had a pleasant blue, green or brown tinge, for although the glass-makers could make clear glass it was very expensive. The Roman crafts-men decorated their glass by almost every method known today and even some that are no longer used. For instance they produced gold-leaf (gold beaten out to a very thin sheet), sandwiched between layers of protective glass. The Roman Empire broke up in 5th century A.D and the glass industry was scattered. Rough greenish-coloured drinking vessels like those the Romans had made went on being produced in all kinds of local variety up until the 15th and 16th centuries, but by this time a new sort of glass from Venice was beginning to be popular all over Europe. Inspired by remnants uncovered on archaeological sites through out Israel, Roman glass fragments gives us a clue to our past. Years ago jewelry designers started to put it into pieces and a history was manifested into true beauty.

It is called glass (vitcrum) because of it's clarity making it transparent to vision. Now offered in a wide variety of pieces: earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, rings and pins, these pieces allow you to journey to the past. Each piece of ancient Roman Glass starts it's journey as a genuine artifact found in archaeological dig sites across Israel. Modern glass makers still, have yet to be able to replicate the Ancient Romans' glass making process. Each piece of Roman Glass jewelry is a unique artifact, carefully hand-crafted and ships complete with history card, certificate of authenticity and pouch. Since my computer was hit with a Trojan Virus I can not share pictures with you so here are some websites to xplore. www.sapphirelane.com/Roman_Glass_Jewelry.htm and altamworks.com

I have long been a fan of this unique expression of art and to me history should be kept alive. These pieces not only are gorgeous but do just that and that is a F.A.C.T.