The Charles Ede gallery is delighted to announce a unique selling exhibition for Spring 2025, in collaboration with renowned British florist Shane Connolly.
The show will celebrate the beauty and craftsmanship of ancient Roman glass, bringing together over 60 pieces of hand-blown glass dating from the 1st-4th centuries in an extraordinary variety of forms and colours. This is the first dedicated commercial exhibition of Roman glass for over forty years, and the first time ever that they have been displayed in such a context.
Shane Connolly, internationally acclaimed for his elegant, naturalistic approach to floral design, has carefully chosen and arranged these pieces, celebrating their craftsmanship and highlighting their use as everyday objects in the Roman home. His floral designs will pair the
glass with seasonal flowers, enhancing the beauty of each piece and emphasizing its relevance as a functional work of art.
Shane Connolly: “Exploring Charles Ede’s exquisite ancient Roman glass vessels and filling them with simple flowers - ones that the original owners might have known - has been an extraordinary experience. The combination of delicate ancient glass and fragile transient flowers has a sweet poignancy which transcends time. Through them we are somehow transported to another place and see these tiny ancient masterpieces with fresh eyes and even greater respect and wonder that they have survived centuries and millennia of change.”
James Richards: “The beauty and intricacy of these Roman glass vessels—originally used to hold ointments, perfumes, and liquids, and valued for their decorative appeal—are beyond imagination. Their delicate craftsmanship can only be truly appreciated in person. In this exhibition, we are thrilled to present the largest collection of Roman glass seen in public since the 1970s. What makes it even more exciting is our collaboration with renowned floral designer and royal warrant holder Shane Connolly, who will complement these exquisite treasures with seasonal spring florals. This unique pairing promises to be a visually stunning experience, one that will captivate and inspire all who see it.”
