What makes the Glass Database tick (besides curiosity and an eye for detail)?
We don’t just collect facts—we connect them. Every piece of information in the Glass Database is part of a bigger picture, carefully linked and checked so that when you go exploring, you’re not just browsing… you’re discovering.
Here’s how the puzzle fits together:
🧩 Interconnected Records
Everything you see here—objects, artists, distributors, and manufacturers—links to something else. A perfume bottle might lead you to the glassworks that made it… which might link to an artist… who worked in a style that traces back centuries.
> No entry stands alone. That’s the joy of it.
🔎 Confidence Levels
Not all information is created equal. That’s why we assign confidence labels to each entry:
- Unknown – We’re not sure yet
- Possible – There’s a hint, but not much more
- Likely – Multiple sources line up
- Confirmed – Rock-solid, well-documented truth
These labels let you explore with context. You’ll know which facts are still being shaped—and which are standing strong.
🏷️ Contributor Badges
As people add insights—especially the accurate, well-sourced kind—they earn badges tied to:
- Specific makers or regions
- Individual artists
- (WIP) Certain object types (like pressed glass or window panels)
It’s a little like leveling up in a research game—proof over pizzazz.
✍️ Anyone Can Contribute
Know something interesting? Found a source we’ve missed? You can submit new entries or corrections. Every contribution is reviewed before going live—but you don’t have to be a scholar to participate. Accuracy matters, and we’ve built in a process to keep things fair and transparent.
And yes—you can contribute anonymously if you prefer to stay behind the curtain.
🔐 Attribution + Transparency
All changes are versioned, timestamped, and (when desired) credited. That way, we can track every brushstroke added to the big picture—without losing the human touch.
🎯 Why It Matters
This project is built on trust—between the site and its users, between contributors and readers, and between the past and the present. Our methods may be structured, but the outcome is creative and alive.
We hope you find something here that surprises you.