Blown Mosaic Glass from Augusta Raurica (Switzerland)

The Roman town of Augusta Raurica, located near Basel in northwestern Switzerland, produced the largest number of blown mosaic glass fragments known until now. They date from the late first century to the end of the second century. Glassworking experiments at the archaeological site of Villa Borg (Perl, Germany) enabled us to explore different ways to create such vessels and to better identify the ancient mosaic patterns, which are often badly distorted. The focus on technical details in the catalog of fragments from Augusta Raurica will, the authors hope, assist scholars who wish to publish similar ware. Three vessels that appear to have been blown but lack the characteristics are likewise discussed. A preliminary list of blown mosaic glass from elsewhere shows a distribution pattern reaching from Britain through northwestern Europe to the northern Black Sea coast.