Glass and crystal as color ornaments of the house (Part 3)
GOTHIC STYLE
The oldest finds of glass beads in territory of the historical Czech areas concern to an early bronze age when this territory has been inhabited by the Celts, known techniques of glass making and drawings of enamel. Slavonic people lodged on these grounds in V and VI centuries B.C. As archeological finds testify, glass beads were very popular among them. Benedicts’ monasteries were, obviously, engaged in the manufacture of glass. Monks owned skill of painting on the glass and drawing up of compositions of a color windowpane of which stained-glass windows were done. During an epoch of a Gothic style these stained-glass windows represented the important component of architecture of cult constructions. In medieval Czech glass-makings masters were able to cook and almost colorless glass. The glass which has been painted over various oxides of metals was also made.
The assortment of medieval glass was rather rich; it included both usual production, and unique subjects. Medieval Czech glass-makers could both do typical products, graceful glasses from the transparent glass, usually decorated with pasted on them beads, and bottles with the necks formed of several bound tubules, referred to “cutrolf” and served for drinking of moonshine and wine.
Special vessels for medieval doctors and druggists were also produced. The glass mosaic “Terrible court” testifies to exclusively high degree of development medieval Czech glass-making. Nowadays this mosaic decorates Golden Gate of a St. Vitt Cathedral in the Prague Hailstones, made under the order of so known “Sacred Roman empire” ruler and Czech King Charles IV (1370-1371).
January 24th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Thanks for a lovely series on glass…so versatile an element of decor, with such a rich history. It’s an affordable luxury.