Frontier Fashion: Glass Bangles of the Roman North
Until 3rd January 2018 Great North Museum: Hancock Newcastle-upon-Tyne
An exhibition puts a peculiar artefact from Roman Britain into the spotlight: a glass bangle, seamless ring-shaped adornment made of coloured glass. It examines the arrival of glass bangle technology in Britain and their popularity in the frontier region of the province, and discusses the various functions bangles may have had. The exhibition includes also real-size reconstructions of the glass bangles, made in collaboration with National Glass Centre in Sunderland and glass artist Connor Garton. Of particular interest are 3D reconstructions of complete glass bangles from two small fragments from Vindolanda Roman Fort and Corbridge Roman town. A highlight is a short film on how to manufacture a seamless glass bracelet.