‘A green thought in a green shade’; Compositional and typological observations concerning the production of emerald green glass vessels in the 1st century A.D.

The results of a programme of compositional analysis on a series of emerald green glass vessels of known form and date suggest that emerald green vessels have distinct characteristics that set them apart from most contemporary glasses. These specific compositional peculiarities presented here will be evaluated in the context of the varieties of vessel forms produced in the colour. In the light of our findings we will suggest a number of ways forward in the understanding of the structure of the early Roman glass industry.