Uranium Glass has experienced a resurgence in popularity among collectors due to the bright green glow it emits under UV light. Its fluorescent properties led to widespread popularity in Europe and North America during the late Victorian era and are being rediscovered today.
Most antique Uranium Glass pieces are decorative, tableware, or household items. Utilitarian uranium glass items are highly sought after, as there were not as many made as the mass-produced decorative pieces. Uranium glass apothecary jars are particularly treasured by enthusiasts.
Uranium glass was created by adding uranium oxide to the glass before melting it. Most pieces contain low levels of uranium, ranging from trace amounts between 2% and 25% by weight. Despite containing uranium, uranium glass is generally safe as the uranium levels are low. While uranium glass is considered radioactive, the risk of negative health effects is minimal. A 2001 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission report stated that uranium glass was found to be safer than modern household electronics.
Uranium glass first appeared in the 1830s, credited to Josef Reidel in Bohemia. But its true rise in popularity coincided in the 1880s when the London-based Whitefriars Glass Company brought uranium glass to the mass market. Then glass factories throughout Europe and America worked feverishly to meet the new demand for the exciting glassware. The popularity of the glass continued through the Great Depression until WW2. In 1943, the US War Department confiscated all uranium for its secretive Manhattan Project, all but putting an end to the production of uranium glass.
Values of uranium glass range from under $100 to over $15,000, depending on the rarity of the piece. While uranium glass is still occasionally being produced by makers such as Fenton, these new pieces do not carry the history that authentic vintage and antique pieces offer. Whether displayed as a vast collection under professionally installed UV bulbs or placed on a simple shelf and lit up occasionally with a small handheld UV flashlight for passing amusement, uranium glass pieces are a guaranteed source of continued delight.
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