Posted 8 years ago
racer4four
(620 items)
Recently I visited the Nicholson Museum at Sydney University, which holds the largest collection of antiquities in the Southern Hemisphere.
As well as mummies, sarcophagi, pottery, jewellery and other artefacts, there is a small collection of glass objects.
These photos show some of the largest glass objects in the collection and although they are smallish (at about 15cm) they are significant.
These vases and bowls are from the Near East and date from around 50BC to 250AD. What amazes me is not only are they intact but also how modern they seem.
There is coloured glass, moulded glass, hobnail, applied handles and trails.
All around 2000 years old.
Fantastic no?
The Nicholson Museum:
The museum was founded in 1860 following the donation by Sir Charles Nicholson (Sydney University’s second chancellor 1854-1862), of his private collection of antiquities and curiosities. Since that time the museum has been overseen by eight different curators, all with different expertise and vision for the development of its collections. As a result the museum has grown in size and scope, today comprising nearly 30,000 artefacts of artistic and archaeological significance from Egypt, Greece, Italy, Cyprus and the Near East.
It is indeed a fine small museum.
It has been far too long since I've been there .... I should do something about it. I love Ancient Glass !!!!
It is a great museum, free, and in the fantastic Great Hall building which is worth a look any time. I spent quite a few hours there!
I must admit this was my first visit in over 20 years :(
I have to admit it but it's over thirty for me .... I took a group of students there on an excursion from Petersham Girls c. 1979.
"We are all just custodians of our pieces" I love the fact the glass travels through millenniums and we are lucky enough to witness this in our short lives.
Such a responsibility to look after our treasures!
True Cpomedx - I am so happy this glass has survived and many now are caring for later glass.
Nice, beautiful, intact pieces in that museum!
I'must always amazed to see such fragile things survive all that time :-)
And nice to be able to put a face on a CW friend! Good looking my dear Karen!
What beast is behind you???
I was amazed to see this glass myself Kyra....amongst all the wonderful objects there these of course struck a chord with me!
The bear behind me is part of a wooden chair I am sitting on at another museum recently visited - a tale for another day!
Astounding......vase 10 has dimples, if in doubt look at its reflection!
Is this really you, Karen?? Why, you're beautiful! Inside and out! :)
And thank you for sharing these photos of the glass, isn't it amazing how old it is and yes, still looks a lot like modern glass, doesn't it? That hobnail could be Fenton surely! Hmm, I wonder if that doesn't say something about the human race? But then there's always Czech glass, LOL! ;))
Well the Egyptians may have invented beautiful glass but the Japanese perfected it. So sayeth me. :)
Great post Karen visit a museum and learn some history is very fun.
2,000 years old.......Yes, totally agree, pretty fantastic. But more importantly, finally a little glimpse of the face behind the persona! And pretty, to boot! [;>)
Wow amazing they are that old and survived:)
Thanks Thomas!
Peggy - I know right! An artist squeezed it a bit just like some of our pieces.
Katherine I was amazed to see this glass - everything new seems to have been done long ago, with stuff all technology too.
I admit the photo makes me look better than usual - no profile, best half of my face and of course vanity only allowed a "good" picture - not my usual shot! Thanks anyway!
Caper and Blade - it is fantastic glass.
Thanks for the compliment too Blade - see comment above......
Aww Ken - thanks. I have to admit I deliberately cropped the shot to leave out the rest of me!
Trey I was amazed too. Thanks.
It must be an experience to see and touch such an old objects. I mean touching only for people who are working in a museum :)
And I have to agree with others about your profile picture! You look great!!!
I was in awe Martina ....curators must have dream jobs at times.
And thanks!
Great post but, OMG those do look modern so I have to start all over because I just thought I knew everything. Just kidding,,not really.
It's amazing glass Find, made with little technology, just skill. Thanks for loving it!