Topic: Chunk of glass (now iridised) dug up in Buckinghamshire

[Glen]

I've attached four photos of a chunk of broken glass that was found (when digging) in the clay soils of a garden in a small Buckinghamshire village (Nash, near Milton Keynes). The base colour of the glass is green, but the fascinating thing about it is that the glass appears to have become iridised during its time in the ground (which I understand is an acknowledged phenomenon). The top surface has golden flakes which easily come off. The chunk of glass appears to have been moulded - hopefully the photos will show the shape as well as the layers of iridescence.

Edited to add: apologies for the pixelation of the images - I had to reduce the size to get them on the board. I do have very high quality images if anyone would like me to email one to them.

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts about the glass - location (maybe a glass works there or simply someone chucking out a broken glass object), age and how it got to look like it now does.

Glen

[chopin-liszt]

It is fascinating, and ever so pretty, Glen. Did you dig it up yourself? It must have been rather exciting!
I can't help with the glass id, I'm afraid, though I thought that iridesence was "invented" specifically to emulate long-buried glass. The feature comes from a reaction with metals in the soil.

[Glen]

Thanks Sue - but sadly I didn't dig it up myself, my daughter and her OH did. They were thrilled by it. It's really intriguing.

Thanks again, Sue.

Glen

[Anne]

Fascinating Glen, I've never seen this sort of natural effect before. Is the base green a bottle green sort of colour? Could it be a part of an old bottle perhaps?

[Glen]

Anne, it is a bottle green (ish) colour. I will try and get a photo of the base colour tomorrow, but it is really hard to find a part of the glass that shows it clearly without the iridescence masking it.

It's not part of a bottle, in my opinion. I feel it might have been part of a bowl, the curve of the moulded section suggests a larger size for the entire item. It's a big chunk, approx. 4 inches long by 2 inches across.

[Frank]

Was a 'Carnival' ever on the dig site 

[Glen]

Ok, I'll agree, that was funny!   :rn:

[chopin-liszt]

What do you plan to do with it, Glen?

My first thoughts were that it should be set in silver to make an absolutely fabulous piece of jewellery - and I can't imagine a more appropriate piece for you. 

[Frank]

It is also worth contacting a glass archaeologist as they are used to understanding such shards. I am in contact with one and can pass on his e-mail to you.

[oldglassman]

HI , I was going to suggest the same as Frank , though I am unsure as to how long this effect takes to occur on glass I am sure its in the hundreds of years ,though i suppose a lot would depend on the soil conditions, you may well have a fragment of ancient glass and certainly worth the investigation , though I am sure it will never have any monetary value it will always be a fascinating object ,attached are some shots of a Roman piece i have c 150 AD showing the same wonderfull iridescence