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Ancient Glass

Publication of an extraordinary collection

The ancient glass collection is one of the hidden gems at the MAS. It's part of a valuable glass collection numbering nearly 700 objects and is on a par with other international collections of glass. Now, for the first time, the subcollection of ancient glass is published in a comprehensive catalogue.

The ancient glass collection held at the MAS contains along-side more conventional objects, such as Roman toiletry items, some quite remarkable pieces that appear only rarely in international collections. The collection of approximately 150 ancient objects provides a historical outline of fragile Roman, Merovingian, Byzantine and Early Arabian glass tableware. 

The ancient glass collection held at the MAS contains along-side more conventional objects, such as Roman toiletry items, some quite remarkable pieces that appear only rarely in international collections. The collection of approximately 150 ancient objects provides a historical outline of fragile Roman, Merovingian, Byzantine and Early Arabian glass tableware. The catalogue also includes some jewellery and a few modern replica pieces of ancient glass. Each object is described in detail and illustrated with high quality photographs. A section has been added at the end of the catalogue providing archaeological drawings.

A richly illustrated introductory chapter about the history of the MAS collection and of the institution itself illuminates how the glass collection has grown to become the extensive collection that we see today. On the one hand the ancient glass collection is made up of archaeological glassware collected from the Antwerp region, while on the other it owes itself to the acquisition of European and Mediterranean glass collections put together by collectors from Antwerp.

The authors are Dr Peter Cosyns (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Dr Eugène Warmenbol (Université Libre de Bruxelles) and Annemie De Vos, former curator of the Vleeshuis  collection of the MAS.

This catalogue is intended for lovers of glassware and scholars alike. Moreover, just as in the past, museum collections were deliberately put on display for the artistic instruction of painters, sculptors and craftsmen. And also today, we are inviting practising artists to take inspiration from this exceptional collection.

  • Publisher MASBOOKS by BAI
  • Photography Bart Huysmans, Michel Wuyts
  • Editor Annemie De Vos
  • Authors Dr Peter Cosyns, Annemie De Vos, Eugène Warmenbol
  • Lay-out & design Ann Walkers for BAI
  • ISBN 9789085868125
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Pages 192
  • Size 220 x 290 mm
  • Language English
  • On sale in the MASshop, from May 2021

Glass in MAS

20/04/2018 - 1/10/2018

At the Visible Storage, you could experience the exquisite glass collection of the MAS Vleeshuis collection.

MASshop

Enjoy a whole new shopping experience and find many fun gadgets. Feel free to pop in before or after your museum visit.

Collection online

Do you want to be able to enjoy all the MAS’s objects from the past, from Antwerp and from the world at any time and in any place? Well, you can, because the MAS also has its entire collection online.

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