Sir John Evans Centenary Project - image background is marbled paper from one of John Evans's books John Evans Numismatic Society Medal 1899

Sir John Evans's Collections of Artefacts

 

Anglo-Saxon Spindlewhorl

Country of Origin: Britain

Description: Spindlewhorl made of greenish-yellow glass with yellow decoration.

Dimensions: 3.1cm diameter

Object Period: Anglo-Saxon

Provenance: Near Cambridge

Museum Accession No.: AN1909.309

Aquisition History: Presented to the Ashmolean by Sir Arthur Evans in 1909.

Other Information: Remains of Anglo-Saxon glass making furnaces have been found in Britain, notably York, Glastonbury and Kent. Anglo-Saxon glass was directly influenced by Roman practices, but the results were generally less refined. A great deal of Anglo-Saxon glass was made by melting down broken Roman glass and re-working it. Sand and ash were mixed and heated together, it was then broken up and put into a crucible and melted in a furnace to produce glass, which was clear or slightly tined, it was then blown into a variety of shapes. Minerals were added to make coloured glass.