Page 148 - Lazar, Irena. 2022. Pogled skozi steklo / A Look Through the Glass. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem. Libri universitatis hereditati, 1
P. 148
ena lazar ■ pogled skozi steklo • a look through the glass 148 Figure 66: A group of flat glass from the Gnalić wreck with the mirroring of tin and mercury elsewhere
(photo: Tomaž Lauko). (Herrera et al. 2008).
Slika 66: Skupina ravnega stekla z ladje pri Gnaliču (foto: The group of plain window panes shows
Tomaž Lauko). that there was no standardised size or range of
sizes of the panes produced. This was most prob-
of the cargo (figure/slika 66). This divides into ably done intentionally for a specific building
two separate types. Over 700 of these are cir- project while different glazing projects would
cular window glass ‘crowns’ or panes. The win- require panes of different sizes. A handful of
dow glass was made by blowing and opening out examples are further decorated with mould-
a bubble of glass on the blowing iron, and then blown designs, but given that so few were found
spinning it so the centrifugal force created an it might be that these were also made for a spe-
even-shaped disc. Window panes were not com- cific purpose. The latest research in Venetian ar-
monly used in this period, and when used they chives gives information that in 1583 Grand Vi-
would be purchased in multiples to provide a zier of Sultan Murad III ordered 5000 window
glazing pattern within each window. Their pri- panes from the Venetian bailo in Constantino-
mary use would be for glazing in churches or ple after the old palace of the Sultan burnt down
buildings owned by rich families. (Radić Rossi and Batur 2020, 530). This would tie
the window panes cargo of the ship with the court
The mirrors, both circular and rectangu- of Constantinople.
lar and of standardized shapes and sizes, were
incomplete and were in transit to be finished The other category of flat glass comes from
mirrors (figure/slika 67). The mirrors found are
all made by a more laborious process, to ensure
that the glass is of sufficient flawless quality to
reflect without distortion. A thick sheet of glass
was first cast into the approximate size and once
cooled its surfaces were ground smooth and the
sheet cut and ‘grozed’ or chipped to the appro-
priate shape. Two different shapes of mirrors
were found, circular and rectangular. Interest-
ingly, not only are finished examples of rectan-
gular mirrors present in the assemblage, (three
distinct size categories) but the ship also carried
a number of ‘sides’–or cast but unground mirror
plates. These were presumably being traded with
the intention that they are finished off elsewhere.
Part of the mirrors, both circular and rectangu-
lar and of standardized shapes and sizes, were in-
complete and were in transit to be finished with
the mirroring elsewhere (Herrera et al. 2008).
Some of the mirrors retain evidence for their sil-
vered backing, although contrary to popular be-
lief silver was not actually used to make them re-
flective, rather an amalgam of tin and mercury
was applied.
Besides the enormous quantity of glass ves-
sels and flat glass, a large amount of glass beads
(photo: Tomaž Lauko). (Herrera et al. 2008).
Slika 66: Skupina ravnega stekla z ladje pri Gnaliču (foto: The group of plain window panes shows
Tomaž Lauko). that there was no standardised size or range of
sizes of the panes produced. This was most prob-
of the cargo (figure/slika 66). This divides into ably done intentionally for a specific building
two separate types. Over 700 of these are cir- project while different glazing projects would
cular window glass ‘crowns’ or panes. The win- require panes of different sizes. A handful of
dow glass was made by blowing and opening out examples are further decorated with mould-
a bubble of glass on the blowing iron, and then blown designs, but given that so few were found
spinning it so the centrifugal force created an it might be that these were also made for a spe-
even-shaped disc. Window panes were not com- cific purpose. The latest research in Venetian ar-
monly used in this period, and when used they chives gives information that in 1583 Grand Vi-
would be purchased in multiples to provide a zier of Sultan Murad III ordered 5000 window
glazing pattern within each window. Their pri- panes from the Venetian bailo in Constantino-
mary use would be for glazing in churches or ple after the old palace of the Sultan burnt down
buildings owned by rich families. (Radić Rossi and Batur 2020, 530). This would tie
the window panes cargo of the ship with the court
The mirrors, both circular and rectangu- of Constantinople.
lar and of standardized shapes and sizes, were
incomplete and were in transit to be finished The other category of flat glass comes from
mirrors (figure/slika 67). The mirrors found are
all made by a more laborious process, to ensure
that the glass is of sufficient flawless quality to
reflect without distortion. A thick sheet of glass
was first cast into the approximate size and once
cooled its surfaces were ground smooth and the
sheet cut and ‘grozed’ or chipped to the appro-
priate shape. Two different shapes of mirrors
were found, circular and rectangular. Interest-
ingly, not only are finished examples of rectan-
gular mirrors present in the assemblage, (three
distinct size categories) but the ship also carried
a number of ‘sides’–or cast but unground mirror
plates. These were presumably being traded with
the intention that they are finished off elsewhere.
Part of the mirrors, both circular and rectangu-
lar and of standardized shapes and sizes, were in-
complete and were in transit to be finished with
the mirroring elsewhere (Herrera et al. 2008).
Some of the mirrors retain evidence for their sil-
vered backing, although contrary to popular be-
lief silver was not actually used to make them re-
flective, rather an amalgam of tin and mercury
was applied.
Besides the enormous quantity of glass ves-
sels and flat glass, a large amount of glass beads
