Recently I saw an article about uranium glass that glows under florescent light. I found it fascinating and I read up on it; here is some of the info I learned. Uranium glass is glass which has had uranium, usually in oxide diuranate form, added to a glass mix before melting for coloration. Uranium glass was once made into tableware and household items, but widespread use was reduced when the availability of uranium during the 1940s. Uranium glass is fluoresces bright green under ultraviolet light and albeit most pieces of uranium glass are considered to be harmless and only negligibly radioactive. It was a bit confusing to me because there are also other terms used for glass including:
- Vaseline glass – a pale yellowish-green, which in the 1930s led to the nickname “Vaseline glass” based on a perceived resemblance to the appearance.
- Custard glass – opaque or semi-opaque pale yellow
- Jadite glass – opaque or semi-opaque pale green
- Depression glass – transparent or semitransparent pale green – doesn’t necessarily glow
I liked the idea so much I bought a couple pieces. This piece is a light transparent green (uranium) and glows really well under blacklight.
This piece is more of a Vaseline or custard glass, it also glows under blacklight.
Lastly I bought some stones – they look like sea glass but they glow unlike sea glass. Based on the color I’d guess it’s jadite.
I just love these pieces. Isn’t glass amazing. I’d love to get more of it but I can’t find any locally.
If you would like to see some of my fused glass work, please refer to my website Elegant Fused Glass by Karen. If you get a chance, check out all my sites; my Art fire Store, and my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen YouTube. If you would like to stay abreast of what I’m up-to and learn a little more about jewelry, check out our newsletter. It is published the last day of each month
Keeping my kiln warm,
Karen
