Gold Ruby and
Cranberry Glass from
The Glass Encyclopedia

Gold ruby glass is made by including in the glass mixture gold chloride, a colloidal gold solution produced by dissolving gold metal in Aqua Regia (nitric acid and hydrochloric acid). Tin (stannic chloride) is sometimes added in tiny amounts, and the process is both difficult and expensive. Today's studio glassmakers can buy their gold ruby glass in rods from specialist manufacturers. This makes it easier for them, but even more expensive. Most gold ruby glass items made today have a thin layer of gold ruby glass coated with clear crystal.

Ruby glass has also been produced for centuries by adding copper to the glass mixture. Most red glass made today is not made with gold nor copper, especially if it is factory made. Other chemicals added to the glass can produce red, and the most common is a mixture of selenium and cadmium. Antimony combined with sulphur and carbon can also be used to produce ruby red glass.

The Romans made gold ruby glass, and the famous Lycurgus Cup contained both gold and silver.

Cranberry glass is another type of red glass made from gold, but the colour is paler (usually a delicate pink) because there is less gold chloride in cranberry glass than in gold ruby glass.

The secret of making red glass was lost for many centuries, and rediscovered during the seventeenth century in Bohemia. At the time this was a blow to the pride and prominence of Venetian glass-makers, who had tried unsuccessfully for years to make red glass. If you can find a copy of it, there was a movie called "Heart of Gold" made about a village where the secret of making red glass had been lost.


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INFORMATION about Bagley Glass!
At last a book on Bagley Glass. The first edition of this book sold out very quickly.

The 2nd Edition is now available and has received a rave response - more information, more and better pictures, new items identified as Bagley for the first time, a helpful index, and more compehensive coverage; - so much so that there is no need for a supporting CD, which brings the price lower! A truly comprehensive guide to help you identify Bagley Glass. Click on picture for more details. 2nd Edition US$33.90 plus pp.

INFORMATION about New Zealand Glass ! Including many original catalog pictures and dozens of photographs. NOW available - this is the first paperback edition of the book and it covers many contemporary New Zealand glass artists as well as the history of glass in New Zealand, Crown Crystal Glass and New Zealand bottles. Price US$29.90 plus pp.

Tiara Glass Collectors' INFORMATION

Click on the picture for more details. This CD includes original catalogs and advertising leaflets. There are now at least seven full catalogs, five leaflets, and the 1995 Tiara Product Information Manual.

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