British technician recreates ancient Roman color changing glass

A technician at the University of Sheffield successfully recreated the dichroic glass used to produce the 1,600 year old Lycurgus Cup.

The original cup, which sits in the British Museum, changes from jade green in reflected light to ruby red when light passes through it. Dr. Lisa Hollands worked with Professor Caroline Jackson to solve the mystery of the ancient material.

Hollands used her experience in glass science to develop a base glass using modern materials that mimic what the Romans likely used. She then experimented with furnace types, oxygen levels, and the inclusion of gold and silver nanoparticles to replicate the specific color-changing effect. The project was initiated for the 2025 LightFest by the Molecular Photonic Breadboards project. After Hollands developed the recipe, artist Elliot Walker used the new glass to create a contemporary sculpture.

This piece blends the story of Lycurgus with the Farnese Atlas sculpture and will be displayed at the Millennium Gallery and the Turner Museum of Glass.