In the early period of Roman times, glass was a luxury item due to its cost and the length of time it took to make. From the second half of the 1st century BC, the discovery of the technique of glassblowing revolutionized the craft. This simple technique of blowing heated glass, with or without a mould, meant that containers and other objects could be produced more quickly and in more shapes and sizes than any other material. Glass competed with other materials such as pottery or metals that until then had been the most common substances used in the manufacture of domestic items.

Originally used in workshops on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean (mainly in Syria), the technique of glassblowing quickly spread to the west and was established near the largest population centres and along the banks of rivers with the right quality of sand.

Many different shapes were manufactured and all the known complementary techniques were used (adhesive designs, engraved or printed scenes and diverse decorations). Other items included flat pieces for domestic use, small vessels for medicines and ointments, toiletry items and even cinerary urns. The most complex and costly items were usually for export. Large quantities of slag, glass nodules and manufacturing waste have been found on possible kiln sites and we have examples of locally-produced objects. This points to the fact that there were small groups of craftsmen on the Catalan coast, probably manufacturing the most common glass objects. After the 4th century AD the popularity of glass began to decline and its production became limited to simple objects for everyday use.