Glass in Iran (in brief)

Until the end of the stone age, technology for glass making was not known. In fact the earliest glass artifacts found were the natural ones such as Obsidians chipped away or honed to make sharp instruments or ornamental beads.

As man perfected the art and technique of pottery and firing and through accidental or maybe intentional combination of sand (silica) and lime at high temperature faience was discovered.

The earliest glass artifacts, in Iran, were found in Chaqazanbil, Ilamid temple in the town of Susa. The period's craftsmen used faience to make glass rods, used as light catches or panes or even statues representing their totems.

During Achemenian dynasty, glassware was quite frequently used in the court. Glass making evolved during Sassanid and subsequently as Muslims were not allowed to use golden wares, such arts as glass blowing, etching and painting reached their pinnacle of perfection.

Nasser Abdollahi, born in 1956, Tehran, member of Art Academy of Iran, is one of the contemporary craftsmen in glass making.