Beautifully illustrated in color, this comprehensive text reviews in pictures and words the history of glass.  

THE HISTORY OF GLASS    edited by Dan Klein and Ward Lloyd, Crescent Books, NY, 1984/1989.  

This scarce book  “is as much for the amateur enthusiast as the serious collector.  Written by a team of experts, each of them a specialist in his or her particular field, this book tells the story of all the major developments in the history of glass from its beginnings in Pre-Roman times, when the first glass industry making small core-formed or cast vessels was established in western Asia, in the middle of the third millennium BC.  The major styles of glass and the techniques used to make it are traced from this early period through the roman era and the Dark Ages, into medieval times, when not only vessel glass in great variety was made but there was also a flowering of stained glass for ecclesiastical windows,” resulting in the magnificent works of the cathedrals.  Influences from Byzantium are discussed, as well as the famed Venetian glassworks.  Finally, the effects of technology are reviewed in the emergence of the sophisticated Art Nouveau style.  There is a basic outline of art history in general in this informative treatment, which compresses a great deal of human achievement into one volume. 

“The authoritative, clearly written text, and more than 275 color and 50 black-and-white photographs, make this book a visually exciting presentation of all kinds of glassware (including some rarely photographed pieces) as well as an invaluable work of reference for all students and lovers of the decorative arts.”  

9” x 11.75” hardback with dust cover in very good condition. 288 pages. 

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