Production of glass in the 16th century on the Adriatic and new finds with shipwreack near Gnalić islet

Nalazište kod otočića Gnalića ističe se kao jedno od najzanimljivijih i najavažnijih podvodnih nalazišta kasno renesansnog doba na Jadranu. Brodolom koji se dogodio nedaleko od Biograda na Moru prevozio je predmete koji svojom količinom i raznolikošću pružaju uvid u proizvodnju i trgovinu Europom krajem 16. stoljeća. Među brojnim predmetima ističe se staklo koje je bilo vrlo važan dio tereta broda. Naime, 1583. godine stari harem sultana Murata III. izgorio je u požaru, a kako bi mu vratili ponovni sjaj sultanovi su podanici iz Venecije naručili 5000 okruglih prozorskih stakala za njegovu obnovu. Velika količina stakla koja je krenula iz Venecije i koja nikad nije stigla do Carigrada nađena je na morskome dnu kod otočića Gnalića i potvrđuje brodolom koji se dogodio koncem 1583. godine. Osim prozorskih stakla među teretom su se nalazili i drugi stakleni predmeti koji omogućuju proučavanje tipologije i kronologije staklenih predmeti, te njihovu proizvodnju i trgovinu u tom vremenu. Nađeno staklo bilo je namjenjeno za svakodnevni život, ali je služilo i kao proizvod za isticanje društvene različitosti.Gnalić Shipwreck site is one of the most interesting and most important late renaissance sites in the Adriatic. Ship that sunk near Biograd na moru was transporting items which give an insight in the production and trade of 16th century Europe. Among numerous types of items found among the cargo, glass stands out as an item of great importance. In the year of 1583 harem of sultan Murat III burned down so sultan ordered 5000 round glass panels from Venice to renovate the burned building. A large quantity of glass which left Venice and never reached Constantinople was found on the bottom of the sea near the islet of Gnalić confirms the shipwreck that happened by the end of 1583. Beside the glass window panes various other glass items were found among the cargo which allow us to study typologies and chronologies of glass items, their production and trade in 16th century. Glass items found on the site were meant for daily use but also served as a kind of a status symbol – a medium to differentiate oneself in the society