Turner Museum of Glass

The Turner Museum of Glass is a museum at the University of Sheffield that houses more than 380 glass pieces from different periods and cultures. The collection spans ancient Egyptian and Roman works alongside modern European glass art and is located within the Sir Robert Hadfield Building.

The museum was established in 1943 by Professor W.E.S. Turner, who gathered glass objects during his research travels in the first half of the 20th century. His passion for glass art and the pieces he acquired on these journeys formed the foundation for this specialized collection.

The collection displays glass art from various regions including Bohemian, Czechoslovakian, Scandinavian, French, Dutch, and Italian pieces from Murano. Visitors can observe how different techniques and styles from across Europe are represented in the displayed objects.

The museum is located within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and can be accessed from Portobello Street. Visitors should note that as an academic collection, it may have specific opening times and advance notice might be required to view the pieces.

The collection includes a wedding dress and matching shoes made entirely of glass fiber. These unusual pieces were featured in the BBC series History of the World and showcase creative uses of glass materials beyond traditional art objects.

Location: Sheffield

Address: Department of Engineering Materials, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin St, Sheffield S1 3JD

Website: http://turnermuseum.group.shef.ac.uk

GPS coordinates: 53.38170,-1.47730

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:45