The Zadar Glass Fish

The Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar is a specialized museum dedicated to ancient glass, the only one of its kind in Croatia. It is located in the historic 19th-century Cosmacendi Palace in the very center of Zadar, and the permanent exhibition features more than 5,000 glass objects from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD. Visitors can see a wide range of objects – from everyday bottles, glasses, and balsamaria to rare, luxurious, and symbolic shapes – and learn about the development of glassmaking techniques in the ancient world. One of the museum’s special features is the ability to connect the entire chain of ancient glassmaking through the exhibited objects: from raw materials, through trade, to the finished product. This process is clearly evident in the case of a Roman shipwreck off Cape Glavat on Mljet, where a large quantity of raw glass in nugget form, intended for further processing, was recovered underwater.

In contrast, one of the museum’s most famous exhibits is the Glass Fish, a rare 1st-century relief bottle found in a grave in the Relja district of Zadar. Together, these findings illustrate the evolution of glass from a commodity to a sophisticated object of special purpose and meaning. The Museum of Ancient Glass is not only an exhibition space but also a living interpretation of heritage. The museum houses workshops where glassblowing is demonstrated and a restoration department that processes archaeological finds. A visit to the museum can be rounded off in the museum’s souvenir shop, which offers contemporary glass objects inspired by ancient forms, connecting the past with the present-day experience of glass.