More than 20,000 people visited an exhibition dedicated to the evolution of glass manufacturing in history.
Pretiosa Vitrea concluded at the National Archaeological Museum of Florence in Italy. The exhibition was sponsored by Pneumofore and drew high levels of interest from the academic world and general public.
They were attracted by the quality and beauty of the glass artifacts on display: more than 300 unique glass findings manufactured by ancient Egyptians, Etruscans, Greeks and Romans.
Among the notable visits was by the presence of the Queen Mother Beatrix of the Netherlands accompanied by her entourage. Her Majesty showed great admiration for the project and the showcased artifacts.
As a supplier of vacuum and compressed air systems for the international glass industry and strongly committed to cultural responsibility, Pneumofore financially contributed to unveil this invaluable glass heritage.
Promoted by the Sehen Foundation in collaboration with the Archaeological Museum, the exhibition was held under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and it is described in a content-rich catalogue (ISBN: 9788874398041). A full video report is also available on the Sehen Foundation website.
“With the sponsoring of the ‘Pretiosa Vitrea’project, Pneumofore supports the idea of glass as an ‘eternal tool by giving prominence to the evolution of glass manufacturing,” said Daniel Hilfiker, Pneumofore President.
“The oldest fragments of man-made glass objects were found in Mesopotamia and are thought to date back to 3500 BC. Through the display of ancient and rare glass artefacts, the project retraces the key points in glassmaking history and the science and technology behind each glass innovation. These advances are now the pillars of the contemporary mass production techniques and glassmaking industry,” concluded Mr Hilfiker.
The exhibition Pretiosa Vitrea – The Art of Glass Manufacturing in The Museums and Private Collections of Tuscany” took place between 17 October 2017 and 29 January 2018.