Conserving ancient glass vessels destroyed in the 2020 Beirut Explosion | Shattered Glass of Beirut

On the evening of 4 August 2020, a massive stockpile of ammonium nitrate exploded at the port of Beirut. The explosion was the largest man-made, non-nuclear explosion in history. The blast killed at least 218 people, injured 7,000 and displaced 300,000 as well as causing $15bn of damage. The immediate and lasting effects have been deeply traumatic, not just for Beirut's citizens but for all Lebanese people.

Just over 3km from the epicentre of the explosion, at the Archaeological Museum at the American University of Beirut, a case displaying 74 glass vessels was blown from the wall, and thrown to the floor. The case, the surrounding windows and 72 of the 74 ancient glass vessels were shattered. Shards of the ancient glass were almost inextricably mixed with each other, as well as with glass from the case and windows.

This is the story of those 8 vessels. This is the story of the damage they suffered, the scars they will forever bear as witnesses to the explosion and as an expression of defiance in the face of destruction. This is a story of healing reflecting the recovery of the citizens of Beirut as they rebuild their lives and their city.

GENUINE CONTENT WARNING: This film starts with footage of the explosion, real-time footage of the damage it caused, and the aftermath of the damage done to Beirut.

To find out more about the vessels: https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/shattered-glass-beirut

In collaboration with the Archaeological Museum at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
The British Museum is grateful to the following for their support of the project:

TEFAF Museum Restoration Fund, part of The European Fine Art Foundation
HENI
The Radcliffe Trust
The Charlotte Bonham-Carter Charitable Trust
The Leche Trust
The Thriplow Charitable Trust
Friends of the Middle East Department
The Wakefield Trust
Middle East Airlines

The Museum also wishes to thank the Embassy of Lebanon to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Institut national du patrimoine, France (Inp), and the International alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas (ALIPH) for their assistance in making this project possible.