M. Bimson

Early Venetian Enamelling on Glass: Technology and Origins

Late thirteenth to early fourteenth century glasses of the so-called “Aldrevandin” group, are believed to be among the earliest enamelled products of the Venetian glass industry. Enamel colours and glasses from Aldrevandin-type vessels excavated in England have been analysed using energy dispersive X-ray analysis in the scanning electron microscope. The enamels are closely similar to those on Islamic glass of about the same period. The early Venetian techniques are inferred to have derived from the Near East, perhaps via a trade in enamel colours.