The Vase
Cleopatra had one. The
Emperor Augustus had this one - probably the finest example of Roman glass in the world. It was made in c30 BC - 30 years after the invention of glass blowing.
During its long life 'the vase' has inspired Rubens, Blake and Darwin; Wedgwood founded an entire industry on it. Then it was smashed by a drunk in 1845. It was immediately restored by the British Museum, who are restoring it again in a nine month project to reduce the vase to its original 230 broken fragments, add the odd pieces discovered in a drawer, and make it safe for the next 200 years. Value on completion? Actually priceless, but 30 million pounds might do.
Photography JOHN ELSE Film editor JEFF SHAW
Series editor BRUCE NORMAN Producer RAY SUTCLIFFE
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