The C.O.A.T Project: Unearthing the Mysteries
We are excited to introduce you to a groundbreaking archaeological project that brought academics and makers together to shed light on an era shrouded in mystery – medieval glass production in Islamic Iberia.
The workshop at Calle Puxmarina, now lost to time, emerges as a solitary beacon of knowledge, the only excavated medieval glass workshop of its kind in Spain and one of merely two known in all medieval Islam, the other found in al-Raqqa, Syria. This remarkable discovery has ignited the passion of archaeologists, historians, and art enthusiasts alike, eager to unravel the secrets beneath the surface.
Brace yourselves as we uncover the hidden treasures of the 12th-century glass workshop at Calle Puxmarina in Murcia, Spain, across a three-part series. This series of blog posts will outline who was involved, provide a historical backdrop, and delve into the process of re-creating a woodfired furnace for 12th-century style glassmaking and glassworking.
Peering through the sands of time
The C.O.A.T (which stands for Clayest of All Time, the affectionate name for the project furnace) Project, led by a team of dedicated experts, was conceived by John Pearson. He is currently carrying out ambitious research for his PhD at Newcastle University titled ‘Experiencing Medieval Craft Practice: New Approaches to Glass Production in Islamic Iberia.’ This expedition aimed to reconstruct the historical narrative of medieval glass production in Islamic Iberia and test how 12th-century glassmakers manipulated hot glass, which is imperative to his research, and other makers who want to try new glass production methods.
Bethany caught up with John to find out more… ‘I’m really interested in the relationship between hot glass as a material, the tools and infrastructure that people used, the passage of real-time, natural factors like gravity, and how all of those things come together to create a particular type of craft practice. I think this is a beneficial thing to explore and understand better because often when faced with archaeological remains, it’s challenging to tell what those remains mean, especially the remains of craft practice.’
Breathing Life in to the Past
But that’s not all! This extraordinary journey doesn’t end with excavations and discoveries. In a delightful fusion of ancient and modern, the C.O.A.T Project is taking us beyond the sands of time with the in-person development of a wood-fired medieval furnace at Parque Arqueológico Torreparedones in southern Spain, which will see four makers combine their talents to explore the practicality and materiality of 12th- century glass production.
In collaboration with internationally renowned glassblowers Bethany Wood and Elliot Walker, the project aimed to revive the ancient art of glassblowing, breathing life into traditional techniques passed down through generations and breathing life into new experimental ways of making glass. Lulu Harrison, researcher, artist, and maker in sustainable material development, sustainable material development has developed a groundbreaking process of working with regional & waste materials to create new glass batches, including working with waste quagga mussel shells, local river sands and waste wood ashes, all sourced from the River Thames.
Join the Journey
Discover the splendour of medieval glass production in Islamic Iberia as we unravel the mysteries that have remained hidden for centuries. Witness the magic of glassblowing as ancient traditions and modern expertise come together in harmony.
Stay tuned as we share updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of this enthralling journey. Let’s embark on an adventure celebrating history and craftsmanship.
Follow us on our blog and social media channels to be part of this remarkable quest for knowledge.
The Torrepardones Glass Furnace Project is kindly funded by Newcastle University, Universidad de Córdoba, and Ayuntamiento de Baena.
John’s PhD research is funded by the Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NBCDTP) and is supervised by Dr Chloe Duckworth and Dr Andrea Dolfini.
The Project Team consisted of:
Fionnuala Bradbury, Prof Ricardo Córdoba de la Llave, Noah Crisp, Dr Chloe N. Duckworth, Remy Garvey, Dr David Govantes Edwards, Lulu Harrison, Mollie Hogg, Prof Javier López Rider, Sarah Mitchell, John Pearson, Will Podd, Rosie Power, Tom Registe, Matt Verghese, Jasmine Wade, Elliot Walker and Bethany Wood.
None of what follows would have been possible without their hard work and continued enthusiasm.
Written by
Leanne O’Connor
Blowfish Glass UK ©
