URANIUM GLASS DEFINITION

A short introduction to Uranium Glass and why it is so sought after.

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History. Uranium glass, also known as vaseline glass, is a pale yellow or yellow-green glass made by the inclusion of uranium oxide, which in its natural state is a vivid yellow.  The first creator of uranium glass was believed to be Martin Klaproth (1743-1817), the discoverer of uranium.  Among his experiments with the element he often mixed it into glass as a colouring agent.  However it may even have its roots as early as 79 AD following the discovery in 1912 of a glass mosaic in an excavation on a Roman Villa near Naples in Italy.

The first major producer of uranium glass items is recognized as Josef Riedel, who named the yellow (German: Gelb) and yellow-green (German: Gelb-Grün) varieties of the glass "annagelb" and "annagrün", respectively, in honour of his wife Anna Maria.  Riedel was a prolific blower of uranium glass in Dolni Polubne, Bohemia from 1830 to 1848.

Why is it so sought after?  The major interest to collectors is that it glows a vivid bright green under Ultra Violet light due to the Ultra Violet radiation exciting the outer electrons of the uranium atoms, which can be by as a bright green glow. This fluorescence becomes more intense as the UV becomes stronger until all that is visible is the bright green glow.

So what is 'Vaseline Glass'?  This is a type of uranium glass with certain additional minerals which changed from its normal transparent yellow or yellow-green with increasing opacity to, ultimately, opaque white. This material inspired the name "vaseline glass" due to its visual similarity with petroleum jelly. Today, this term is the preferred term for all varieties of uranium glass, especially in the United States.  However in the UK the term 'Vaseline Glass' is also used to describe other types of opalescent glass

Is it safe to handle?  It is radioactive and does register with a Geiger counter, however so does the watch on your wrist, like this the radiation levels are low and quite safe with normal use.  

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