Depression glass: Transparent yellow or transparent yellow-green glass, glows green if uranium oxide was included. Contains other colorants to “up” the green color, like iron oxide. Less popular with collectors because it is “tainted”.
Perhaps the most reliable way to identify the presence of uranium in the glass is to expose it in the dark to a source of ultraviolet light (e.g., a black light). If the glass glows a rich green color, it contains uranium.
Some depression glass is uranium glass. Although of marginal quality, Depression glass has been highly collectible since the 1960s. Due to its popularity as a collectible, it is becoming more scarce on the open market. Rare pieces may sell for several hundred dollars.
Not all depression glass is uranium glass. Many depression era glassware do not use any uranium and are still classified as depression glass, and some green depression era glass did not use uranium to color them, which makes antique shops hit or miss without the right tools.
Edit: after a quick search on depression glass I found this-'' Most depression glass is not safe to eat or drink off. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends against using these types of dishes for their original purposes due to the amount of uranium found in them.
What color of Depression Glass is rare? Pink and crystal (clear) are two of the rarest colors of Depression glass.
Another way to tell if your drinkware is lead-free is to hold it up to the light. Standard glassware is better at refracting light, meaning you should be able to see a prism of light breaking into a rainbow. If you struggle to make a rainbow no matter how you hold the glass, it could contain lead.
If the items are called custard glass, uranium glass, vaseline glass, canary glass, or depression glass, they are worth further investigation. The professional cannot judge these items by color alone. Just because the glass is green or milky-white doesn't mean it contains radioactive materials.
From circa 1943 until 1958, because of the events of World War II and the Cold War, U.S. officials did not allow the production of uranium glass since the government had banned uranium salts from commercial use. Only after uranium oxide was deregulated did the U.S. government allow uranium glass to be manufactured.
Uranium glass is a term used to describe any glassware that glows green under UV light.
For hundreds of years, glassmakers used small amounts of uranium to create yellow or green glass. The yellow tint of this glass led to the nicknames “Vaseline glass” and “canary glass.” Under an ultraviolet (UV) or “black” light, the uranium causes the glass to glow bright green.
Uranium glass is considered safe to wear and handle, according to the U.S. nuclear Regulatory Commission. In fact, it is considered to be safer than household electronics.
Uranium glass, also known as Vaseline glass, has a distinct green or yellow-green color due to the presence of uranium oxide. It can be identified by its color under normal light, but the most definitive test is to expose it to ultraviolet light.
Use a UV light to see if the glass glows.
Uranium glass, also known as Vaseline glass, is especially valuable, so take a UV light with you to the next estate sale and see if the glassware glows! Vaseline glass refers to glass made primarily from 1830 through World War II, when there was a ban placed on uranium.
While the addition of gold enabled artists to create a beautiful shade of red that would remain vivid year after year, it also made red glass a valuable commodity. “Even today,” Geology.com says, “if you purchase a red sheet of glass it will cost significantly more than any other color.”
Uranium glass is considered to be radioactive, but the level of radioactivity is very low. This generally means that there are no negative health impacts when you handle the glass correctly.
Uranium glass was produced regularly until just before WWII, when the US government halted production as uranium became highly regulated. This moratorium lasted until 1958, when uranium oxide was deregulated, and uranium glass has continued to be produced ever since (Collector's Weekly n.d.).
Some pieces of depression glass contain uranium and will glow under UV light. Burmese Glass: This type of glass has a gradient of colours, typically transitioning from yellow to pink. Some Burmese glass contains uranium and will exhibit the characteristic green glow under UV light.
The level of radioactivity varies by piece, ranging from less than 1 percent to up to 25 percent by weight, but there is no recognized danger to handling or using uranium glass, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Depression glass is often less valuable than Vaseline glass, so collectors have to be careful to not confuse the two. Q: Where can you get Vaseline glass? A: Vaseline glass can be found in many antique stores and at auctions, and you can purchase new decorative pieces today, though they can be quite pricey.
The yellow-green glass did not sell as well as other colors of glass, so during the depression years, glass manufacturers started adding iron oxide to the glass mixture (but still included the Uranium Dioxide) and this had the effect of making the glass green. Because of this, most green depression glass will glow.
Borosilicate is the safest material for water bottles and glass cookware. It's made with boron trioxide which means it won't break under major temperature shifts like tempered glass.
Are Anchor Hocking products lead, cadmium, and heavy metal free? Yes, and also CA Prop 65 compliant.
The decision to remove lead from our production process has been made for environmental reasons and the improved performance of our products.