UK technician successfully recreates multi-colored Roman glass, cracking 1,600-year-old mystery

British specialists have successfully recreated the color-changing effect of Roman glass used to create the 1,600-year-old Lycurgus Cup, as announced by the University of Sheffield. Located in the British Museum, the Lycurgus Cup is one of the best-preserved glass cage cups from the 4th century CE. It displays dichroic properties, meaning its color shifts from jade green in reflected light to ruby red in transmitted light.

In 2022, the cup was recognized as one of the seven wonders of glass by an international panel of artists and conservators. The team recreated the glass by using a recipe derived from a fragment of the original artifact, and was led by Christina Metcalfe, Molecular Photonic Breadboards Project Manager at the University of Sheffield.

Dr. Lisa Hollands, a technician from the university's school of chemical, materials and biological engineering, worked alongside Professor Caroline Jackson, a leading Roman glass expert, to research the glass-making techniques used by the Romans. Hollands developed a base glass using modern materials to mimic the Romans' materials, and then added small amounts of gold and silver in the right form to achieve the color-changing effect.

Elliot Walker, a UK glass artist, was commissioned to create a contemporary sculpture using the recreated glass. The sculpture, which pays homage to the Lycurgus Cup and its history, will be on display at the Millennium Gallery from November 6 to 15 before moving to the Turner Museum of Glass at the University of Sheffield. The team's success has surpassed expectations and is expected to captivate people's imaginations for years to come.