Glass originated in Mesopotamia between the 25th and 23rd centuries BC, but its widespread use didn't begin until after the 16th century BC. The rapid development of the Egyptian glass industry occurred around 1500 BC. In the 1st century BC, a new technology, glassblowing, emerged in what is now Syria. Around 50 BC, glassblowing appeared in Roman Syria and Palestine. This method was more convenient, significantly reduced costs, and dramatically improved production efficiency. Once developed, glass products instantly transformed from high-end luxury items into practical household goods.

In the 10th century, Venice became a trading center, and its glass industry was established. In 1291, the Venetian rulers decided to relocate all glass workshops and artisans skilled in glassmaking to Murano, a small island in the Mediterranean under Venetian jurisdiction. In the early 14th century, the Venetians coated the back of glass with tin foil and mercury, creating highly reflective mirrors. Glassware appeared relatively late in China; true glass first appeared in the late Spring and Autumn Period and early Warring States Period. With Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty and the opening of the Silk Road, glassblowing technology underwent innovation and development, propelling the global glass manufacturing industry to great popularity.

The Taiyuan City Museum houses a Northern Qi Dynasty stemmed glass. Non-destructive analysis using modern technology has shown that this glass is a typical Sasanian ash-type glass, providing new evidence that Sasanian glass entered my country along the Silk Road. In the 1970s, a research team in East Germany developed a glass that could withstand extremely high impacts. In the 1980s, the Mondrian-style red, white, and black checkered "Shanghai" brand glass was frequently seen during holidays and visits to relatives.