Ancient Secrets, Modern Light: The Lycurgus Project
How did Roman glassmakers make a cup change from green to red? Discover how gold, silver and modern science helped Sheffield researchers recreate a 1,600 year old mystery.
How did Roman glassmakers create a cup that changes from green to ruby red depending on the light?
The 1,600 year old Lycurgus Cup has puzzled glassmakers and scientists for generations. Made from dichroic glass, the Roman cup appears jade green when light reflects from it, but turns ruby red when light shines through it.
In this film, discover how University of Sheffield Project Manager, Christina Metcalfe, and Technical Specialist, Dr Lisa Hollands from the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, set out to recreate this unusual effect. The film explains how tiny amounts of gold and silver nanoparticles inside glass change the way it interacts with light.
Recreating the glass was far from straightforward. Lisa experimented with different materials, furnaces and conditions before developing a recipe that could reliably produce the colour change seen in the ancient cup.
The film also follows the next stage of the project as world-renowned glass artist, and winner of Netflix's 'Blown Away', Elliot Walker uses the Sheffield made glass to create a contemporary sculpture inspired by the Lycurgus Cup. The collaboration brings together ancient craftsmanship, modern glass science and art to explore a mystery stretching back more than 1,600 years.
Discover how Roman glass, gold and silver nanoparticles and modern materials science came together to shed new light on one of the ancient world’s most remarkable pieces of glassmaking.
Credits
- Glass Development: Dr Lisa Hollands (Technical Specialist at the University of Sheffield)
- Glass Development: Professor Russell J Hand (Professor of Glass Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield)
- Project Manager: Christina Metcalfe (Project Manager at the University of Sheffield)
- Roman Glass Consultant: Professor Caroline Jackson (Professor of Archaeomaterials)
- Glass Artwork: Elliot Walker (Glass Artist at Blowfish Glass)
- Filming and Editing: Ed Cartledge (Filmmaker at Sort Of...Films)
- Filming Assistance and Animation: David Heath (Digital Engagement Officer at the University of Sheffield)
- Film Funding: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council with support from the Stanley S Bagley Glass Technology Endowment Fund
- Glass Development Funding: City, Culture and Public Engagement Department and the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield
- Originated from LightFest
