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Shattered Glass of Beirut at the British Museum.

05/09/2022

British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks

Many of us will remember hearing the news on the 4th of August 2020 of a massive explosion in the port of Beirut. At least 218 people were killed, with 7,000 injured and buildings damaged up to 10 km away.

British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks

The Archaeological Museum at the American University of Beirut was one of those buildings. It housed a collection of 74 items of ancient glass, some from 2,000 years ago. The display case crashed onto the floor, shattering objects, the remains mingled with both window and cabinet glass.

British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks

Requests for help went out to museums around the world. A specialist team went to sift through the thousands of mixed shards to identify and pick out relevant fragments. This display is what the conservators at the British Museum put back together.

British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks

It is a small and moving display, testament to the love and skill of those people, experts in their field.

British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks

A much more recent tale of neglect and corruption has been added to the long history of these remarkable objects, their new scars adding to their fragility and beauty.

British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks
British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks
British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks
British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks
British Museum glass. Photo by Caroline Banks

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