Illustrated with 120 superb pieces, Glass: A Short History brings to life a centuries-old craft that has served many purposes, styles, and cultures. Until the first century BC, glass was made only in Western Asia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean regions; its manufacture then spread to China and other areas. The peoples of the Roman Empire included the most versatile glassmakersnbsp;in the ancient world, leading to both widely available low-cost nbsp;glassware and stunning nbsp;luxury glass. During nbsp;the Middle Ages, Islamic glassworkers nbsp;decorated nbsp;their fine cut glass with gilding and brilliant enamel. In thenbsp;15th century, the focus of luxury glassmaking shifted to Venice. Glassmaking nbsp;in Europe nbsp;was transformed again in thenbsp;17thnbsp;nbsp;century, when thick-walled nbsp;objects with cut and engraved ornament were in great demand.

By the nineteenth century, nbsp;glassmaking was well established in America, where, as in Europe, industrial processes were developed to supply the rapidly expanding population with glassware for daily use. Within the pastnbsp;50 years glass has gained acceptance as a medium for artistic expression, and the Studio Glass Movement, born in the United nbsp;States, has inspired artists all over the world to explore its unique properties. Glass tells this sweeping story from ancient times to the present in an accessible text with gorgeous examples.