Topic: Pressed glass hen/chicken basket. Pamela

[Gill]

Picked this up the other day, I saw a quite detailed discussion of these on the Presglass forum but ended up a bit confused I'm afraid, mine looks quite like the ones with the crosses on the base but without the crosses. Any help with age and ID appreciated.

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-12313
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-12312
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-12311

[Ohio]

Here in the US we these are known as the Polish Hen because an import reproduction outfit in St. Louis, MO sold these for several years & they were imported from Poland. Can't miss them because feather detail on neck is superior & the two cross bands just before the tail. Ken

[jonchellycain]

I had one of these years ago, and it reacted under UV, shone bright blue. If you have a blacklight/UV give it a go.

[Gill]

Hi Ken and thanks, I think the moulding is pretty good as well, any idea as to age please?

Jonchellycane,  gave it a go and I must say all my did was to look very purple under the UV light, not sure if I could say it was a reaction really, good thing though because while I was waving my UV torch around in the dark I discovered a couple of other things.

[Anne]

Purple is normal for non-reactive glass Gill. If it reacts (i.e. contains uranium) it will zing up bright green.

[Gill]

Yes, that's what I thought Anne, I was looking to see if it would go bright blue like the other one, thanks, GillX

[pamela]

Hi Gill,
Ken and many others are much better than me when it comes to hens on nest  :spls:

I gave up trials to attribute them many years ago - it makes me nervous counting eggs, feathers, basket lines... Please forgive me...
  :pb: !

[Gill]

Hi Pamela, yes I got a bit confused looking at the trread on the presglass forum!  By the way the post title was supposed to read    Pamela?  as an invitation to you.  Without the question mark it looks a bit abrupt, sorry.....good to hear from you anyway, cheers, Gill

[KevinH]

Purple is normal for non-reactive glass Gill. If it reacts (i.e. contains uranium) it will zing up bright green.

Anne, can you please expand on what you mean by the first sentence. If the glass is "non-reactive" then there should be no visible colour as a result of the uv light. However, there can sometimes be an apparent purple tint (more typical with clear glass than blue?) which is either a reflection of the tinted coating of the tube / protective filter or it could be true visible purple light emitted by the uv bulb but not fully filtered by the coating.

[Lustrousstone]

Lead crystal gives a light blue glow under UV light, cadmium gives a yellow glow, manganese gives a dull green/yellow/orange, selenium (I ithink) gives a pinkish glow...(there's certainly something that gives a pink glow)

But if you are testing for uranium (rather than just messing about enjoying the effect), you shouldn't be doing it in the dark because if you can't see the glow in daylight, it isn't uranium.