Chronicle (1966)
The Vase
1989 • E3 Jun 14, 1989 50m
Cleopatra had one. The Emperor Augustus had this one - probably the finest example of Roman glass in the world. It was made in c.30 BC - 30 years after the invention of glass blowing. During its long life 'the vase' has inspired Rubens, Blake and Darwin; Wedgwood founded an entire industry on it. Then it was smashed by a drunk in 1845. It was immediately restored by the British Museum, who are restoring it again in a nine month project to reduce the vase to its original 230 broken fragments, add the odd pieces discovered in a drawer, and make it safe for the next 200 years. Value on completion? Actually priceless, but 30 million pounds might do.