The fascination of glass

People have been making precious things out of glass for thousands of years: jewelry, decorations and delicate tableware. The exhibition "The Fascination of Glass" tells the story of the material from the first artificial gemstones in the Near East to the tumblers of the early Middle Ages. Finds from the canton of Zug and numerous items on loan from Switzerland and abroad illustrate the technical progress and show the multifaceted diversity of glass works of art.

The history of glass begins in the Near East. It was probably by chance that people discovered the shiny material while working with metal. Egyptian craftsmen developed a glass-like mass, which they shaped into figurines and vials. The first Zug glass beads from a pile-dwelling village in Cham are also made of this turquoise-colored mass. In the late Bronze Age, blue and white glass beads from northern Italy came into fashion. Together with amber from the Baltic Sea, they are threaded into decorative necklaces.

In Roman times, glass technology experienced an enormous upswing. Glass blowing now made simple glass affordable for the masses, while new luxury products were created using artistic decoration techniques. One of the top pieces is a glass beaker from the canton of Ticino, colorfully painted with birds and vines. The early Middle Ages are represented by colorful bead necklaces from women's graves in Zug and drinking glasses, known as tumblers, from the canton of Baselland.

Games and interactive stations convey the history of glass interactively and make the exhibition an experience for the whole family. A game of skill illustrates the Bronze Age bead trade. Fashionistas can try on an early medieval beaded collar based on a model from Baar. And a puzzle with fragments of glass vessels shows how archaeologists identify glass finds. Anyone who solves the tricky riddles posed by the glass goblin Glitzertoni will also receive their own bead necklace as a souvenir. In the children's gallery, young children can play with marbles in the shiny glittering cave, discover treasures and listen to the glass goblin's adventure stories.

A rich program with demonstrations, hands-on activities and lectures will accompany the special exhibition. It will be published on the museum's website at the beginning of October.