Glass is believed to have been invented around 3000BC. It happened by mistake rather than as a deliberate discovery, when some sailors found the vitreous minerals in the form of glass among embers burnt on the send beach.
By the 3rd millennium BC glass was definetely known. The Egyptians had made a chemical discovery that alkaline silicates fuse together like metals. These silicates can be made by heating silica (sand) and flint (quartz crystals) with potash. They were able to develop the process to make the glass clear, and even to make imitation of precious stones.
With the invention of blowing iron early in 1300 BC, the Egyptians developed the technique of blowing glass, reheating and repeating until the desired shape was reached. this lead to the manufacture of bottles and dishes with a wide range of decoration and motifs.
It is truly amazing that out of such simple substances such an incredible material can be created. As the sand, or silica, lime and soda are heated, they gradually decompose and change into liquid and gas.
Eventually, every particle of silica is dissolved (in order to achieve this, the ingredients need to be heated to around 2700 degrees).
Glass is result of shaping this liquid by pressing, blowing, drawing, floating, casting and rolling it
into many varied shapes and patterns. This is a delicate process and the heating and the cooling of the glass needs to be carefully done.
Today there are modern methods of producing glass, however, historically glass has been made using the antique method.
