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COLEM:1930.743

Colchester Collections

counter, gaming counter

This polychrome glass gaming counter is an unusual type, decorated with different colour spots. Polychrome counters such as this are rare in Britain – one set is known from Lullingstone Roman villa. Glass counters are more commonly made of opaque white or dark blue/black glass, such as those found in the Doctor’s Grave at Stanway, Colchester.Colchester Museums curate one of the best collections of Roman glass in the country, especially of the first century AD thanks to Boudica’s rebellion and destruction of the town. The Romans used glass to manufacture a huge range of objects, from bottles, bowls and bath flasks, to hairpins, gaming counters and even windowpanes. In the early period glass vessels were imported into Britain but, from the second half of the first century AD, glass was also made here. The development of glass blowing techniques meant that certain items could be produced cheaply and in large quantities. Glass is often thought to be rare from the Roman world, because it is so fragile, but the main reason for its rarity is because it was recycled throughout the Roman period.

Roman

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