Getty Unveils Celebrated Collection of Ancient Glass

The J. Paul Getty Museum possesses a world-renowned collection of ancient glass—ranging from the astonishingly delicate, to the richly hued and whimsically shaped.

This extraordinary assemblage, spanning from the Bronze Age to the medieval period (1500 BCE–1000 CE), features artifacts from a vast geographical expanse, including the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and central Europe.

Ancient Glass in the J. Paul Getty Museum (J. Paul Getty Museum, FREE), authored by the esteemed scholar Anastassios Antonaras, offers a captivating exploration of glassmaking history—a highly technical art form that remains largely unchanged to this day. The publication includes detailed and informative entries on each piece, complemented by vivid photography. Additionally, readers will find a comprehensive history of the collection, a glossary of glassmaking terms, a technical study, and a full bibliography.

The free online edition of this open-access publication is available, featuring 360-degree views and zoomable high-resolution photography. Free PDF and EPUB downloads of the book, along with JPG downloads of the main catalogue images, are also available.