During the early 19th century glass makers in Central Europe started to use uranium as a good way to make yellow and green glass. The most striking thing about uranium glass is that it is radio-active, but of course, those early glass-makers did not know this. If you apply a geiger-counter you will get a positive reading. If you shine an ultra-violet light onto it, you will get a fluorescent green glow. But the levels are not, so far as we all believe, in any way harmful.
Josef Reidel is usually credited with inventing uranium glass in 1830 under the names Annagruen for yellowish-green uranium glass, and Annagelb for yellow uranium glass, naming them after his wife Anna Maria. His factory at Dolni Polubne in Bohemia, made these kinds of glass from 1830 to 1848. In 1838 the Choisy-le-Roi factory in France was producing uranium glass. In 1843 the French glassworks, Baccarat, started making uranium glass, which they called cristal dichroide and also introduced an opaque apple-green version which they named chrysoprase.
During the latter part of the 19th century, glass containing uranium was made with heat sensitive chemicals which turned milky white when reheated, producing a shading effect from yellow to milky white at the edges. This kind of glass is often called vaseline glass today, because of its similarity to the ointment of that name (which used to be a yellowy colour). Davidson's lemon pearline contains uranium and is usually classified as one kind of vaseline glass. There is an article and pictures of Davidson's glass at http://www.glass.co.nz/Davidson.htm
The description "uranium glass" is disliked by some glass collectors, especially in the USA, where the term "vaseline glass" is used to cover any kind of yellow or green glass which glows under ultra-violet light.
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Here are some very helpful books on uranium glass. Click on the book cover to read more about that book, including price and any available discounts for buying on-line.
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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.
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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
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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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