Topic: Small blue vase with mica flakes - Sowerby Blue Nugget?

[glassobsessed]

Very interesting, thanks again Christine, Cadmium is toxic too though I imagine this was less of a concern then than it would be today.

That bit about chucking gold sovereigns into the batch sounds a bit rum...

[MHT]

I think the designer of this piece must have found the shape amusing (have a good look at the second picture)

I have a piece like this in blue and white and only noticed a few days ago.

Yours is a lovely find, I have been looking for a piece of nugget glass for many years. Very jealous.

[glassobsessed]

Any chance of a photo of your blue and white piece Mike?

[MHT]

There you go.

[Bernard C]

Mike — that's fabulous.   Blown Sowerby Malachite is so beautifully elegant.

Bernard C. 

[chopin-liszt]

I suppose it doesn't wobble nearly as much as the real thing. 

[Bernard C]

...   As a scientist, I doubt the flakes are cadmium because a) I doubt cadmium metal was readily available off the shelf or as metal foil (the colorant is cadmium sulphide) and b) its melting point is way below that at which glass is worked and blown. I suggest this is an error.

Christine — If it wasn't cadmium, what thin sheets or foil would have been available in 1883?    Silver must be one possibility.   Would very thin mica work, or would it be too brittle and/or too transparent?

Bernard C. 

[Lustrousstone]

It's likely mica and it's not silver or any other metal foil because that breaks up with heat

[flying free]

is this the same shape in vitro porcelain turquoise
http://blackcountryhistory.org/collections/search/?q=Sowerby
m

[glassobsessed]

Sort of... http://blackcountryhistory.org/collections/getrecord/DMUSE_BH3206/

But yes.