Sunday, January 09, 2011

In the last Gazette Rande Bly said take your black glass out to the sunlight to see the real color of the glass. Cobalt Blue for Sinclaire and for Steuben shades of Magenta.

Well, it seems that Gerry Eggert of Rochester, New York is envious that Rande in Birmingham, Alabama has warmth and sunlight. He says he can’t do that test today in Rochester.

Then Charley Giard Monson, Massachusetts responds along the same lines.

Alan, I have some of each and will try this if/when the sun ever reappears. My past experience is that I could not see any color on each when held to the sun, but will be glad to try this again.

Then Michael Krumme who lives in Los Angeles notes that after the rainstorms the sun has finally come out when he says.

Ah, I finally a chance to be useful to the CSC, instead of just asking questions!

Being a collector of black glass, I have four pieces of Sinclaire’s Nubian Black. Alas, three of the four are thick-walled, rather heavy-for-their-size pieces (which can sometimes be a good indicator that they are Sinclaire. Another is the large pontil mark, on those pieces which have one.) Only one of the four pieces Sinclaire’s Nubian Black that I have is thin-blown: a #3121 14 inch vase with applied white trim.

Alas, Rande, when held to strong light, this piece shows amethyst, rather than cobalt or any other color. I don’t have time today to attempt to take a photograph which shows the color, so you’ll just have to trust me that — in this instance, at least — the Sinclaire shows amethyst. However, I do have a “general” photograph of the vase, which I am attaching.

I will be curious to see if anyone else has a piece of Sinclaire Nubian Black which shows one of the colors you describe.

By the way, I held my lone piece of Steuben Mirror Black, an 8 inch “stick” vase, to the sun, but the piece did not show any color through it. It’s not that thick-walled, but it was for all intents and purposes, opaque.

Michael

Any opinions expressed by participants to the Gazette are the opinions of the authors and are not endorsed by or the opinions of the Carder Steuben Club.