We use things made of glass every day, from our smartphone screens to the containers that hold our beverages, to the windows of our cars, homes, and offices. First invented in the Middle East nearly 4,000 years ago, glass soon captivated Ancient Mediterranean and European civilizations.

This installation follows centuries of glass making across Europe, drawn from the Museum’s holdings. Many of the works have not been on view in decades, including rare examples of ancient glass and selections of dazzling English drinking glasses from the Wallenstein Collection, one of the Museum’s largest, yet little-known, collections of decorative arts. It also celebrates new acquisitions of European glass and brings alive several of the stories of the previous owners of our works who have fallen under glass’s sparkling spell. 

Organized by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This exhibition has been supported by a grant from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.

English. The Bacchus Goblet, 1730–1740. Glass; Overall: 12 × 5 1/2 inches (30.48 × 13.97 cm). The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri, Purchase: The Charles T. and Marion Thompson Fund, 2022.14