The Persistence of Memory. Exploring the Significance of Glass from Materiality to Intangible Values

As a material, glass has been linked with knowledge and skill mastery for at least three millennia, reflecting the use of traditional tools and technologies inherited from the past. The history of glass speaks of know-how, technological transitions, and contaminations among preferences and raw mater...

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Main Authors: Sara Fiorentino, Tania Chinni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Heritage
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/6/257
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author Sara Fiorentino
Tania Chinni
author_facet Sara Fiorentino
Tania Chinni
author_sort Sara Fiorentino
collection DOAJ
description As a material, glass has been linked with knowledge and skill mastery for at least three millennia, reflecting the use of traditional tools and technologies inherited from the past. The history of glass speaks of know-how, technological transitions, and contaminations among preferences and raw materials. An increase in the awareness of traditional knowledge underlying the tradition of glass manufacturing has recently been observed with the inscription of the art of Venetian glass beads on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which has been recognized as a repository of knowledge and mastery of skills, reflecting the use of traditional tools and technologies inherited from the past. However, the potential that glass holds to rediscover the flows and exchanges of technological knowledge in the past has only been explored marginally, and issues linked to the intangible values and the socio-cultural significance of glass are still only sporadically addressed. This review aims to stimulate reflection on the diversity of the significance underlying glass as a material that has marked the cultural and technological history of man. This study will establish the foundation for a methodological reflection in the approach to the study of ancient glass that is intended to help uncover the intangible values that it is an embodiment for.
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spelling doaj.art-bc89a9b567fa43da9d67eb08212d34ad2023-11-18T10:40:03ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082023-06-01664834484210.3390/heritage6060257The Persistence of Memory. Exploring the Significance of Glass from Materiality to Intangible ValuesSara Fiorentino0Tania Chinni1Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna—Ravenna Campus, 48121 Ravenna, ItalyDepartment of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna—Ravenna Campus, 48121 Ravenna, ItalyAs a material, glass has been linked with knowledge and skill mastery for at least three millennia, reflecting the use of traditional tools and technologies inherited from the past. The history of glass speaks of know-how, technological transitions, and contaminations among preferences and raw materials. An increase in the awareness of traditional knowledge underlying the tradition of glass manufacturing has recently been observed with the inscription of the art of Venetian glass beads on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which has been recognized as a repository of knowledge and mastery of skills, reflecting the use of traditional tools and technologies inherited from the past. However, the potential that glass holds to rediscover the flows and exchanges of technological knowledge in the past has only been explored marginally, and issues linked to the intangible values and the socio-cultural significance of glass are still only sporadically addressed. This review aims to stimulate reflection on the diversity of the significance underlying glass as a material that has marked the cultural and technological history of man. This study will establish the foundation for a methodological reflection in the approach to the study of ancient glass that is intended to help uncover the intangible values that it is an embodiment for.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/6/257glassarchaeologyart historyarchaeometrymaterial cultureintangible heritage
spellingShingle Sara Fiorentino
Tania Chinni
The Persistence of Memory. Exploring the Significance of Glass from Materiality to Intangible Values
Heritage
glass
archaeology
art history
archaeometry
material culture
intangible heritage
title The Persistence of Memory. Exploring the Significance of Glass from Materiality to Intangible Values
title_full The Persistence of Memory. Exploring the Significance of Glass from Materiality to Intangible Values
title_fullStr The Persistence of Memory. Exploring the Significance of Glass from Materiality to Intangible Values
title_full_unstemmed The Persistence of Memory. Exploring the Significance of Glass from Materiality to Intangible Values
title_short The Persistence of Memory. Exploring the Significance of Glass from Materiality to Intangible Values
title_sort persistence of memory exploring the significance of glass from materiality to intangible values
topic glass
archaeology
art history
archaeometry
material culture
intangible heritage
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/6/257
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