Fuel For Atomic Weapons
In the modern era, we associate the radioactive element uranium with atomic weapons capable of destroying entire nations.
Source: Wikimedia
However, according to The Washington Post, not long after Martin Henrich Klaproth first discovered it, it was used as a glass colorant.
The Love of Uranium Glass
While we all know uranium is highly radioactive and certainly destructive, it is also a key ingredient in “uranium glass.”
Source: Wikimedia
Uranium glass can be made in traditional forms, including blown, patterned, or pressed. Yet it’s the unique colors of uranium glass that catch the collector’s eye, offering mesmerizing shades of green and yellow.
Vaseline Glass Glows Under Black Lights
Uranium glass was coined in the early 20th century when artisans noticed that the uranium colorant used in finished products resembled petroleum jelly.
Source: Wikimedia
The uranium within the vaseline glows when placed under a black light, giving it the unique appearance it’s celebrated for.
Is Uranium Glass Actually Dangerous?
The hazardous health risks associated with uranium were fully understood by the 1940s, according to The Science Times.
Source: Stanford University
Since this period, many people have been hesitant to handle or even own any kind of uranium glass due to fears of radiation poisoning. Yet, it’s much safer than most imagine.
Vaseline Glass is Deemed Relatively Safe
Using a Geiger counter, a device used to measure radiation, anyone can test how much uranium is in their Vaseline glass collectible.
Source: Wikimedia
However, the level of radioactivity is relatively low, meaning that it doesn’t pose a health risk so long as it’s stored and handled correctly.
Increasing Popularity of Vaseline Glass Products
While uranium glass was popular during the Great Depression, it has seen a recent surge in interest over the past few years.
Source: Wikimedia
The unique glow and potential radioactive dangers have allowed TikTok users like @terrestrialtreasures to amass a following of nearly 80,000 people simply by sharing short videos of their finds.
Vintage Collector Shares Her Thoughts on Uranium Glass
An antique collector, Whitney Granger, first learned about uranium glass from a Facebook group. When speaking of her newfound love for uranium glass, Granger said once she obtained her first piece, she was hooked.
Source: Wikimedia
“I had no room for curio cabinets to collect uranium glassware,” she told The Washington Post. “However, I was at the time very interested in vintage jewelry, and when I saw my first piece of uranium glass jewelry, I was immediately hooked.”
Collector Stumbles Upon Designer Vaseline
According to Granger, her first piece of uranium glass was made by the esteemed Neiger brothers in Czechoslovakia prior to World War II.
Source: Wikimedia
“They are considered among the greatest Czech jewelry designers in history and frequently used uranium glass,” Granger said.
Modern Pioneer of Uranium Glass
One of the first pioneers of the uranium glass industry was Franz Anto Riedel, who began adding uranium to his products in the 1830s.
Source: Wikimedia
He would go on to create an elegant set of glassware for Queen Victoria when she ascended to the throne in 1837.
The Process of Making Vaseline Glass
According to Katherine Gray, an artist specializing in glass products and judge on Netflix’s “Blown Away,” the process of making uranium glass is similar to that of other glass products.
Source: Wikimedia
The uranium is typically added by rolling the molten glass in a powdered form of the radioactive metal.
Modern Artists Engaging in Centuries-Old Practice
“Uranium is just a controlled substance, so it’s a little harder to get your hands on … but there are a few people that manufacture it in the U.S.,” Gray told The Washington Post.
Source: Wikimedia
She is just one of many modern artists who have begun creating elegant pieces by incorporating uranium into their products.