Set of Four Victorian Uranium Yellow Wine Glasses c1860

Description

Heading : Set of four uranium wine glasses
Date : c1850-70
Period : Victorian
Origin :  England
Colour :  Uranium green. vaseline
Bowl : Petal cut round funnel 
Stem : Slice cut extending into foot cushion
Foot : Conical
Pontil : Polished
Glass Type : Lead
Size : 12.5cm tall.  6.5cm bowl and 6.5cm foot
Condition : Excellent. no chips or cracks
Restoration : None
Weight : 616 grams combined

Additional Information :

This type of glass is coloured by adding a small amount of uranium to the melt usually around 2% by mass. The metal ions within the glass oscillate when exposed to ultraviolet light and emit green light. The addition of transition metals to glas to provide colouration has been known since Roman times. Uranium was first isolated in the late 18th century and was quickly adopted by glass makers when it became available.