The mysterious Portland vase, which was destroyed several times, but rose like a Phoenix from the ashes (7 photos)

This glass vase was made during the reign of Augustus Caesar. And it is one of the most mysterious objects cultural heritage.





Vessel decorated with figures of people on a cobalt background, after one of the versions, found in the 16th century at the burial place of the emperor Alexandra Severa. The walls of the vase are decorated with two scenes-sketches with the participation of men, women and mythical characters.



According to the versions of various researchers, this may be both a display of the heroes of Greek mythology, and sketches from the lives of ordinary people. Very interesting manufacturing technology, which aroused genuine interest in the find from glassblowers. The thing is the fact that the vase consists of two-layer glass - blue-black cobalt base and white opaque layer. And the blue was removed in a special way so that white comes to the surface and forms images.



Yes, the vase is ancient, masterfully executed, beautiful. Repeatedly passed from hand to hand of eminent owners. And the title - Portland she got thanks to one of them - the dukes Portland.

But such items are not uncommon. What makes a vase stand out from the rest?

It has been smashed twice in the last two centuries and restored with filigree accuracy - this is the first. And the second an amazing feature - none of the modern masters could accurately identify the technique in which the vase was made.



In 1810 the vase ended up in the British Museum. And in one of winter evenings, a rather tipsy young visitor smashed work of art of antiquity. I did it on purpose, grabbing a standing next to the sculpture and using it as a sledgehammer.



The unfortunate vase shattered into many pieces. There were 189 pieces. And the museum workers were lucky enough to find a specialist, who was able to restore the exhibit. It took a few months scrupulous work. But it was worth it: the product was restored. But later for several decades, a problem has arisen - at the gluing points seams began to show.



It was decided to reconstruct the vase again relatively recently, in the end of the last century. The vessel was "broken" again, divided into pieces, which connected with natural glue and treated with ultraviolet light. The work went on for a long 9 months, and the process was controlled using electron microscope.



More than once or twice, talented glassblowers tried reproduce an ancient amphora. A total of five copies were made, but to understand how the ancient masters came up with an incredibly complex technology and performed masterpiece, so far they haven't been able to.