Topic: Bristol Green Whisky Tumbler

[NevB]

I think this is a whisky tumbler, pressed lead crystal, probably from around 1850-70 but maybe a little earlier. I can't remember seeing a tumbler in Bristol Green and after searching I can't find anything online except a cut glass one on Scottish Antiques. In the catalogues I've searched I can't find this design. Height is 3.25", top diameter 3", the base has been ground and has lots of wear and it has vertical striations around the rim. I believe it is uranium glass as it glows an opaque green under UV, typical of this sort of green glass, though the photo does enhance the glow.

[cagney]

  That is what we call them over here In U.S.A. Very similar. Yours particularly nice in the color as I think the uranium adds depth to the emerald green.

[NevB]

Thanks Cagney, I think I read somewhere that American makers used uranium as a colour enhancer, I presume that also applies to British makers.

[cagney]

   I did research a while back on glass recipes using uranium, mostly mid 19th century and later, Both American and English. Of the 20 or so recipes probably half had a recipe for a green as well as the yellow. With  the addition of copper or brass filings you would get a more green color. The terms used in the actual recipes would be " copper scales"  or 'pindust".

  Frederick Carter wrote down many glass recipes he had collected while at S&W and later. One specifically called for the addition of copper to the uranium mixture for a " beautiful Pomona green". If I remember correctly it was Hodgetts recipe from 1851 [ British }.