Csiffáry Gergely: Magyarország üvegipara 1920-ig - Studia Agriensia 25. (Eger, 2006)
Függelék - Glass industry in Hungary until 1920
GLASS INDUSTRY IN HUNGARY UNTIL 1920 Gergely Csiffáry In this book the honored reader is to learn about the short and modem summery of the glass industry that existed in the territory of historic Hungary. After the introductory thoughts, the history of this branch of industry is discussed in 18 chapters. Because of the specific characteristic of the topic first of all an introduction into the technology of glass making was necessary. The chapter The beginnings of glass making, is about the early days of glass making which concerned the territory of the ancient states in the near East. Also the importance of ancient Egypt and Rome in the production of glass is discussed. The chapter The memories of glass industry in the Pannon Region, reveals the history of glass industry of the period before the settlement of Hungarians, mainly that of the Roman period. The role of soda and potash in glass making was known even in the ancient times therefore soda glass as well as potash glass was produced at the time. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476) some Christian communities lived in the territory of the one-time Pannónia. A native population must have lived in the area providing continuity that not only took over the names of the rivers but also the traditions of Roman glass making. In an individual chapter the reader may become acquainted with The question of the existence ofAvar glass making. The Avar period not only had talented goldsmiths/blacksmiths but the Avars were also able to melt gold, silver, iron and make bronze for which they used charcoal and at their level of technology they also made colored glass-beads. According to the testing of materials, the habitants of this state of the times of migrations had their own glassmaking centers where soda as well as potash glass was produced. As the glass beads were produced in two steps first the raw glass was made then it was melted. After that in the second step it was melted again with the powdered coloring oxids for which a special melting furnace was used. Two of these furnaces is known from the territory of Pannónia. In the chapter The relation of Hungarians with glass, the beginnings of the glass industry of some neighbouring and some western European countries is also concerned. Then one may get to know the history of the Hungarian word for glass (üveg) and the glass objects found in the tombs of 371
