Glass Adornments
The  glass adornments is limited to bracelets and pendants made in the style we have discussed in the previous chapters. Artistic styles and traditions used in making these glass objects are similar to the ones used in creating the metal jewelry represented in the collection.  First and foremost, we see the Early Eastern and Hellenistic-Roman styles, supplemented by local flavor, such as menorah, shofar, and lulav.

The first art objects made of glass were discovered among the finds of ancient Egypt of the IV mill. BC. These items included beaded necklaces and amulets of colored glass. Other glass pieces were found on the territory of Iraq, which proves that the art of glass jewelry making existed in Mesopotamia in the XXVI century BC (Glass in Antiquity, by F. Neuburg, London, 1949, p.1). For millenniums, Egypt was the only country where glass was manufactured (“Glass in Antiquity” by Ruth Hurst Vose, London, 1980, p.41).
 
Early glassmakers borrowed casting techniques from figure-casters; they placed glass into special open molds, or templates, that were used by potters and faience makers.  This allowed to process only one side of the object. Powdered or molten glass was pressed into an open mould, with the pattern forming on the inside (“Glass in Antiquity” by Ruth Hurst Vose, London, 1980, p.41). 


In the previously referenced work “Glass Antiquity,” the detailed chapter “Palestine and Jews” (p.31-54) is dedicated to glass production in Israel. The author states the opinions “that the Jews played an active part in the development of the Syrian glass industry are no more conjunctive. We know it from literature, from historical documents and above all, from finds of glass in Palestine” (“Glass in Antiquity..,” p.31). The author researched the collection of the Rockefeller Museum; many of these items are similar to the Hecht Museum’s collection. Neuburg counts four stages of the Old Israel glass industry:

1.    The first phase of development embraces the period from 100 BC to 100 AD.
2.    The second period of development, in the III-IV AD.
3.    The third period of development, the IV AD, the use of glass multiplied and the shapes followed suit.
4.    The character of the 4th period of development, in the IV and V  AD” (Glass in Antiquity.., p.31).

The Hecht collection includes all the above-mentioned periods; however, we cannot be sure that all the items were manufactured on the territory of Israel. To prove that, a comprehensive chemical analysis of the glass would have to be performed.

Most of the items are made of dark-colored glass; occasionally, yellow, blue and green glass is used. “Emerald- green glass appears to have exercised a fascination over the peoples of Antiquity” (Ibid, p.32). According to Heraclius, the “vitrum judaicum”- Jewish glass- is made using the following method: “Take a grossinum sapphire and then some marschaum, which is beaten on the anvil with a hot iron (the so-called hammer-blow); take a third thereof and mix with the grossinum and with lead- that is, Jewish glass” (“Glass in Antiquity.. ,” p.37).   

Glass manufacturing on the territory of Israel existed for a long time and was an important part of the artistic heritage. Firstly, we must mention various vases, amphorae and beaded necklaces – the early finds near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. These included “One is lazuli-blue, the other- malachite-green… and yellow glass too” (Ibid, p.38).
It is known that special attitude existed towards objects made of white glass; none of those are present in the Hecht collection.

There were several centers that manufactured glass, among those Rishon near Herzliah, Tiberius, and Jerusalem. It is possible that the bracelets and medallions from the Hecht collection were not only purchased, but also produced in Jerusalem. This theory is supported by archeological excavations of Ramat-Rahel between Jerusalem and Beth-Lehem (Bulletin of the Jewish Palestine Exploration Society, Jerusalem, 1934-35).

According to the suggested chronology, blue glass articles manufacturing dates back to the so-called second and fourth periods, i.e., III -IV AD and IV-V AD. The same chronological boundaries are applied to the glass articles in our collection.

Among other techniques, Neuburg states the following: “The countries of the Mediterranean littoral produced soda-glass, and it is natural that this method of decorating glass should have been discovered, practiced and developed here”(Glass in Antiquity.. p.47).

Themes and subjects of articles are concentrated around “the time of Maccabees, the era of national revival, one frequently finds the representation of objects of a national symbolical Character, and these too are naturalistically rendered as, for example, safety as sea (an anchor). Good Fortune and Plenty (cornucopia). Protection (a shield). Fertility and Prosperity (Ears of corn and flowers). Victory (palm-leaf), etc.” (Glass..p.49).


Bracelets  
Glass bracelets includes miniature items made out of dark or black glass. Black glass is a special material, which “from the second to the first century BC and later was obtained from iron oxide. It is worth nothing that an excess of any oxide will color glass so deeply that it look black. Examples of black glass during the ancient period are comparatively rare, and presumably it was not generally popular” (Glass, London, 1980, p.33). All of these items are made by casting in ready-made molds. All items were purchased in Israel.