It is noteworthy
that by the XVII century lead glass, apparently, was no longer being created by
anyone but the Chinese. The “wear” of the surface of glass products created in
the Qing era (1644-1911), according to some researchers (for example, P.
Hardie), is associated with an excessive amount of calcium (lime), which was
used then to improve the quality of burning.
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| Jewelry in the Han Era |
The term bo-li, according to the modern point of
view, was originally used to designate transparent (sodium) glass, products
from which came to China in the Han era (206 BC - 220 AD) from Central Asia or
the Middle East ( along the Great Silk Road). The production of Chinese soda
glass was supposedly established in the era of the Six Dynasties (III – VI
centuries) in the areas of the r. Yellow River, had fallen from the IV into the
dominion of foreign ruling houses. Local authorities eagerly used to invite
foreign masters, who apparently set up the production of this type of glass in
China.
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| Ancient Chinese Glass. Bottle for Snuff. |
Tiny vessels
(height from 4 to 7 cm) of green-blue glass with purple, yellow and red
splashes, ornamented on the outer surface with a relief pattern of interlaced
strips are now recognized as the oldest Chinese glass products of this kind.
They were discovered in the burial of the kingdom of North / Toba Wei
(386–534).
During the Sui
era (589–816), the production of soda glass entered a qualitatively new stage
of development, as evidenced by the green and blue transparent glass vessels
relating to this time, replicating monochrome ceramics. In the Tang era
(618-907), the range of glass items of this kind expanded greatly - from jewelry
(most often bracelets made of greenish-white and amber glass imitating jade and
amber, respectively) to various categories of tableware. The best products of
this era include, for example, a jug of greenish-yellow glass, equipped with a
curved handle and a bird's beak-shaped spout; a green glass bowl in the form of
a flower, the contours of which smoothly turn into borders, repeating the shape
and ornamentation of early porcelain products.
