Glass Compositions over Several Millennia in the Western World

Abstract

The change in silica based glass, common in the Western world was based upon essentially two major fusing agents sodium and potasso–calcium. The sources of sodium were sodic plant ash found in circum oceanic areas or zones of highly saline soils, natural sodic mineral deposits (natron) and terrestrial wood ash materials. Some excursions into a purely potassic composition were practiced and eventually lead was added to potassium as a fusing agent. These basic glass compositions follow a historic pattern in the Near East and European areas, with use and disuse followed by re–use of the sodic components. The use of the different components was usually a matter of economic and political organisation which dictated resource availability for the glass makers. Overall glass was made following these constraints until the 19th century when industrial processes and wider markets lead to the use of sodium as the major fusing agent for silica based glass.

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