Often referred to as “cobalt blue glass”, Bristol blue glassware is made using a mixture of cobalt with molten glass which produces the distinctive blue colour.
What is the purpose of blue glass?
In flame testing, cobalt blue glass is often used as an optical filter in order to filter out the undesired strong yellow light which is emitted by the traces of metal like sodium and expands the ability to see violet and blue hues and under fluorescent light, the cobalt glass has twice the effect.
Is Bristol famous for blue glass?
We also know that blue glass was made, fairly extensively at one time, throughout the British Isles but it is the blue glassware of Bristol that garners the most fame. It is unknown exactly when glass production began in Bristol, although it is known that glass was being made in England during the 1500s.
Is blue glassware worth anything?
The value of blue glass varies greatly depending on the condition of the glass and it may differ based on what a seller is asking for it. Reasonably priced vintage cobalt blue selections vary widely in variety and price. A single piece of blue glass may cost anywhere between $15 and $50.
Who invented Bristol blue glass?
Lazarus Jacobs was a Jewish immigrant to Bristol from Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In 1774, at the age of seventeen, Isaac joined his father’s glass cutting firm at 108 Temple Street, Bristol, and launched Bristol Blue glass as a national brand, using the cobalt oxide Cookworthy imported.
Is blue glass natural?
Natural glass can be fragile and doesn’t typically last long in the environment. In 2014, a unique sample of natural glass was recovered from Marquette, Michigan in the USA. The sample is blue in color and is known as a fulgurite, a natural feature formed from lightning discharging into the ground.
What is antique blue glass called?
Cobalt Blue glass’ modern incarnation stems from the process used for producing cobalt smalt glass at the Blaafarveværket industrial manufacturing center in Norway in the 19th century. It involves a process of smelting cobalt oxide together with quartz and potassium carbonate.
Why is Bristol so hipster?
For one reason or another, the city is already intrinsically associated with so-called hipsters – probably as a result of its young population, two universities, booming vegan and vegetarian food scene, street art, abundant independent shops, thriving live music scene, strong politics and general cool vibe as a result
What makes Bristol special?
Bristol was the first British city to be named European Green Capital. Bristol’s modern economy is built on the creative media, technology, electronics and aerospace industries. Laid-back, welcoming and kind: your typical Bristolian. All the buzz of a major city without the expanse, Bristol is truly walkable.
What is Bristol most known for?
Bristol is famous for its harbor, its blend of architecture, and its contribution to the arts and sciences. It’s known for its Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, and its rich history involving swashbuckling pirates and North American expeditions.
How can you tell if blue glass is vintage?
How to Know Whether Glass Is Antique
- Pontil marks – Blown glass, as opposed to molded glass, usually has a pontil mark on the bottom.
- Bubbles and irregularities – Many antique glass pieces have tiny bubbles or other imperfections in the glass.
- Patina – Older glass usually has a patina of time and use.
What kind of glass is blue?
Cobalt blue glass
Cobalt blue glass is normally a deep rich blue like the vase on the left. It is made by incorporating cobalt oxide in the molten glass mixture. Most blue glass is given its color either from cobalt oxide or from copper oxide added to the molten glass. Copper is a more delicate colorant than cobalt.
What is the rarest color of Depression glass?
From 1930 to 1934 it was created in green, yellow, pink, and crystal. Today, while green Cameo pieces are very common and can be purchased for just a few dollars, pink and yellow pieces are very rare due to limited production and can be worth hundreds.
What is the oldest glass in the world?
The very first glass known to stone age people which was used for making weapons and decortaive objects, was obsidian, black volcanic glass. The earliest known man made glass are date back to around 3500BC, with finds in Egypt and Eastern Mesopotamia.
When did Bristol blue start?
1988
Bristol Blue Glass was started back in 1988 by James Adlington, with the help of glass maker Peter St Clair. The aim was to re-establish a glass making tradition back into Bristol that had been lost for over 60 years.
What is the oldest glass company in America?
Pairpoint
Originally founded in 1837 as the Mount Washington Glass company, Pairpoint is the oldest operating glass company in the United States.
What mineral makes glass blue?
Small concentrations of cobalt (0.025 to 0.1%) yield blue glass. The best results are achieved when using glass containing potash. Very small amounts can be used for decolorizing. 2 to 3% of copper oxide produces a turquoise color.
What is added to glass to make it blue?
The Color Wheel
Sulfide and powdered oxide are the most common. To create yellow, you add cadmium sulfide; red still requires gold (chloride); a blue/violet hue needs cobalt oxide; purple needs manganese dioxide; pure violet requires nickel oxide; and emerald green calls for chromic oxide.
Does blue glass have uranium in it?
Most of the clear blue glass are NOT uranium glass. Manganese shows either green or orange fluorescence under UV light. (In the bottom picture under UV, you will see green glass in the back. It is real vaseline in order to compare the bluish-green one in front.)
What color glass is worth money?
Look for pink, blue and green glassware
Pink tends to be the most valuable because it is more rare. Yellow and amber colored depression glass is more common and therefore less valuable.
What is the most valuable type of glass?
Generally, pieces dating from the mid-19th through the early-20th century are considered the most valuable. Referred to as “old” milk glass, these objects showcased motifs such as dolphins, animals, birds, and ships, and featured molded edges resembling latticework.