Featured Why is "uranium" glass so in demand these days?

It fluoresces under UV light. Every piece of green glass I've posted online for sale I get, "Is it uranium glass?" Not all green glass is fluorescent. There are also items of Fiestaware pottery that ARE radioactive.

 

Ive asked myself that too !

 

I have no clue. Maybe it is the new thing for the younger crowd.

 

As best I can figure it's another fad. I can't keep it in stock. Customers like that they can shine a black light on it and it glows green. They don't really care about any other facts about the glass beyond the fact it glows. They wander the mall with black light flashlights. At home they have cabinets set up with black lights just so they can show the glass off. It's not restricted to depression glass - I've had pieces of Fenton, Bohemian, and EAPG that also glowed and that also sold quickly. If it glows any other color beyond green (or possibly yellow) no one seems to care.

 

Definitely a fad/new collectible. I think it's fun that young people are into glass.

I was at an estate sale a few years ago where the former owner collected Uranium glass -- former owner was way ahead of their time and had some truly unique pieces. Young people drove up in masses to this sale and descended on the case full of glass spending hundreds.

I got chatting with one young person and she pulled out her cell and showed me a photo of her display. This was not the photo (just grabbed this one online) but very similar:



I could see the appeal. If I was a young person I would love that in my living room! Kind of spooky!

 

Yep, a fad. I have shoppers at the flea market shining a blacklight flashlight on all my green glass

 

It's because it's a cool hidden feature they can show other people that is interesting. Also the added mystery of radiation lol.

 

I don't think it's a fad. I think people genuinely enjoy it and collect it because it's unique, fun and has nice history behind it. Cool to show off to friends and family that aren't into antiques or know anything about that stuff.

 

A friend of mine's SIL collects uranium glass and this is her cabinet. When you see them like this, they are rather compelling. Makes me want one, but I'm getting rid of stuff, not acquiring.



One of our boardies found this stacking 3 tier set of jars and agreed to sell it to me. I gave it to my friend who gave it to her SIL for Christmas. This stacking jar is actually quite rare, especially to find all 3 pieces together. My friend's SIL just likes the glowing glass and is not aware of what's rare or scarce. She was delighted with this jar.



I told my friend to take it fast before I decided to keep it (not). And a fun time was had by all. One of these days, we'll go to see this cabinet in person (her SIL lives out of town in northwestern Ohio).

At my garage sale, a young woman said that different people collect different colors of green, but green's the color. I think it goes along with this Mid Century phase that's popular now. And the reason why Viking Glass now goes for scary money.

 

I’ve had these forever. Didn’t think they were worth much but this thread made me think of them. Are they recognizable or just basic?

 

No idea, but it's pretty.

 

I know! It's because it's awesome! If I remember correctly, the ultraviolet light excites the uranium molecules, so they spread out and make a hole in the middle while other molecules rush in to fill the space. All of that commotion causes the glass to glow! Here's my collection. Glass colors are amber, yellow, green, and custard. The blacklights don't stick out like that in person. They're actually a softer blue

 

Hard to tell mmarco. Are they yellow or green? Cut and polished bottoms or molded? Maybe a pic of their backs without the blacklight would help.

 

They are at my office currently, will check and add photos tomorrow. These photo’s here were on my phone from 2015. Thanks

 

I got to tell co-workers that the green glass measuring cup they picked up for a set had uranium in it. They were not excited to use it after that and it came home with me. I had covid right after bringing a bunch of stuff home and quarantined myself in the bedroom for over two weeks.

My husband helpfully cleaned and started using the measuring cup! I caught him doing it one day and casually said "Oh. So you're irradiating our food now?" He laughed then looked at me for the joke, saw my face and got very confused. Then he got really scared when I told them about the uranium.

I said really it's fine unless we're eating the glass but you should stop using that. Our friends didn't even want to touch it when I told them what it was.

When we cleaned out my mother's storage unit they went through some things without my supervision (I told them not toooo). They left "a pile of garbage and donations" for me to deal with.... Right in the middle was a 6-set of uranium soda glasses. I knew without even using my light. I guess they were Great Grandma's. Mine now.

 

I would imagine that they would fly out. Just that they are uranium glass makes them appeal.

 

When certain molecules (neon for example) are excited by a stimulus such as ultra violet light or electricity, electrons are displaced from the outer shell. This absorbs energy from the UV light. When the electrons drop back into the shell a precise quantity of electromagnetic radiation is emitted. If this is in the visible spectrum ie light, then fluorescence occurs. The same principle can be observed in sodium lamps and neon lights. Each with it's own specific colour related to the wavelength of light emitted.

My time doing a level chemistry was not wasted

 

So what we are seeing is actually a bunch of partying electrons.
Or post-party electrons.

 

‘Hence our attraction.

 

EAPG cake stands