After 1,600 years, researchers recreate the colour-changing glass of a Roman masterpiece

Photo credit: The British Museum A drinking cup made around 1,600 years ago has a remarkable property: it can appear green when light falls on it and ruby red when light shines through it. Now, researchers at the University of Sheffield have recreated the unusual glass effect, offering a new understanding of the technique used by ancient Roman glassmakers.According to the official website of University of Sheffield, the team has successfully reproduced the effect of the famous Lycurgus Cup using a repeatable glass recipe. The original artifact, held at the British Museum, is made from a special type of glass known as ‘dichroic glass,’ which displays different colours depending on how light interacts with it.The achievement follows extensive experiments by Dr Lisa Hollands, a technician in the university’s School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, working with Professor Caroline Jackson, an expert in Roman glass.Why does the Roman cup change colour?Photo credit: University of SheffieldThe British Museum dates the Lycurgus Cup to the fourth century AD. Its collection record identifies it as a Late Roman drinking cup made of glass, with silver-gilt fittings around its ...