Decorative Glass Work - Agra
Glass in nature is found in amorphous form by the rapid cooling of magma which is known as volcanic glass. Synthetic glass, an accidental discovery while the metallurgy or the similar process in the ancient time. Since the time of discover to the modern era, glass has remained as one of the essential material used in variety of industries. Egyptian and Mesopotamian can be called as the one of the first civilization to use glass products, they have been using glass from the third millennium B.C.E. Items such as glass beads were found in the grave of UR III (c. 2100 B.C.E) of Akkadian Empire and similar items are also found in Ziggurat, the large structure build by the Mesopotamian and Iranians. Some of the archeologist believe that, there were glass producing plants in Egypt at XVIII Dynasty. Colored glass beads are found in the hastinapur of (c. 1000 B.C.E) which are made of soda-lime-silicate compositing which different proportion of phosphates and potassium, glass of different colors are found depending upon the percentage of iron present in them. Similar to hastinapur, different color of glass like blue, red, green, amber, orange and black, dark green, ear-reels with a floral design, 'eye-beads', bangles and seals are found in Bhir mound, which was an important center of Mauryan Empire (322 – 185 B.E.C). Srikap ( which is in Pakistan now ) belonging to the mauryan empire was involved in the importing of glass items from Rome and Greek . Some of the well-known glass items which were imported were mosaic, milleflori, lace glass, ribbed and swirled ware, blue and white cameo.
The major development in the glass making industry could be seen during the Graeco-Roman period. Roman who were well versed with the glass blowing technique and glass sheet making technique. During the 11th to 16th century glass was used for the ornamental purpose and was used as a luxury items, which was used by the royals of Greek and roman. Venice was one of such place, where decorative and color full glass are considered as high value goods and items. These fabricating exquisite glassware was appreciated throughout the world and created a huge demand like never before. One of the early production of glass can be seen in kopia village of utter Pradesh, where archeologist have found furnace made out of clay and block of glass weighing about 50 kgs. This suggest that, even before the glass was commercially imported from other country, it was made in india. Indian glass maker has used different kind of method for blowing and making glass article. The type of glass article which were made using molding, folding, twisting and double-stripping. During the time when the trade between India and Portuguese, glass beads which were made in Kolhapur were exported to South Africa.
It is believed that,many of the items such as glass dishes and dish covers, spittoons, flat-bottomed vessels, mirrors and other objects like tiles and ear reels were brought to India by the Persian craftsmen, who were brought to india by the Mughals. Persian art was very famous among the indian royal dynasty. Many of the decorative glass article are used in the monument like taj mahal, jogun mohan place, royal place of Rajasthan, mysore place and other great monuments. Apart from the decorative glass, the glass was used for the industrial purpose like distillation, scientific use and other use.
There were many articles and glass items which were brought from outside India, but was not accepted in the Indian market such, articles were melted in a locally made furnace Bhainsa Bhatti, which were established Firozabad. Even in the 21st century, these furnace are still operational in Aligarh and at Purdal Nagar. In the beginning of the glass making process, small size bottles and bangles were made. During the initial period glass bangles were made and these bangles were called Kadechhal Ki Chudi. Since then, Firozabad is well known of decorative glass work.
