The glass in the Egyptian civilization. Description of glass elements considered as glass inlays of an Egyptian Collection of the University of Sevilla

摘要

In this work, the authors emphasize the importance that the manufacture and art of glass making represented for the Egyptian civilization. It is described the historical evolution of glass in Egypt and the main fabrication methods. Next it is pointed out the existence of a particular class of materials, named as glass inlays. For the Egyptian period, these materials had several applications, all these of high art level, such as small amulets, jewellry, pieces and components of masks and cardboard articles. These materials could be the precursors of glass mosaics. As examples of the relevant interest in this kind of manufacture, it has been selected a particular Egyptian Collection of the University of Sevilla containing some pieces of glass inlays. The objective of this work is to provide valuable information to a broad community concerning these materials. Selected pieces are described and a critical discussion is performed considering the characteristics of each one The results obtained in the description of these glass materials have been related with the information provided from selected bibliography concerning important glass collections, in particular of glass inlays. Between them, the authors included the monochromatic glass collection of The Greco-Roman Museum of Alexandria (Egypt), British Museum (United Kingdom) and Egyptian Museum of Cairo (Egypt).