Topic: Uranium cased geode-like tiny bowl

[Anik R]

I finally got my first uranium pieces  ...  the first is this wee red cased in uranium green geode-like bowl.  I suspect Murano, 50s or 60s.  Could someone give me more information on it?  It weighs about 400g, is 40mm tall and 80mm wide.  

Though it's got some damage to it, I can't get enough of the glow -- it even seems to glow without a UV light.  I never thought uranium glass could be so alive and exciting.

[Anik R]

And a picture of the glow...

[Lustrousstone]

Murano 50s/60s/70s sounds about right. The glow is good isn't it! 

[Anik R]

Thank you, Christine  :kissy:

The glow is wonderful -- It's such a shame I wasn't able to capture it in its full glowing-glory...  the colour is much stronger than what my photo depicts. 

Christine, would you know if this piece is simply decorative, or if it had some purpose (like for salt)? 

[Lustrousstone]

I suspect many of the Murano pieces (and indeed similar pieces from elsewhere) are purely ornamental, unless they have dents for cigarettes

[Anik R]

Aha 

Thank you, again.  I think I'll go flash my UV light a little more and entertain myself with the novelty of seeing glass glow. 

[antiquerose123]

Aha 

Thank you, again.  I think I'll go flash my UV light a little more and entertain myself with the novelty of seeing glass glow. 

 :hiclp:  Fun isn't it.  Hard to find around here, but I carry it with me when I go glass hunting.  I see Anik, you are Glowing too  :chky:

GFY  :thup:  (Good For you)

[Paul S.]

nice piece Anik -  For what it's worth, there is a 'geode' in one of the Pina books - albeit a little larger than yours (although not so nice as I'm sure it's non U. - joke ...gedit  gedit :24:).   Pina's example is quoted as 15.9cms, and with a book value of US$100 - 150.   I don't see other examples in his book, so maybe they weren't as common as thought.
Ref.  'Fifties Glass' - Leslie Pina - Schiffer (2000) - page 65. 

[Anik R]

Thank you, Paul.

The value in Leslie Pina's book seems a bit ambitious for today's market.  Ebay has got several examples of these Murano 'geodes' in a variety of sizes, and I haven't seen any for a 'Buy it now' price greater than 34,99 GBP -- even for one in excellent condition.

My itty-bitty 'geode' probably doesn't have much value (except for a personal/sentimental one) as it's got a serious 'bruise', a significant chip, and several fleabites to the top rim.  But in this case I won't complain -- Being my very first uranium piece, I'm fascinated with its glow. 

[Lustrousstone]

Hey you've succumbed to something less than perfect; you must be mellowing. These aren't that common; at least I haven't found one for a price I'm prepared to pay (cheap).