Answers

Feb 9, 2009
Issue 461

Greg Merkel of Corning, Inc. gives us some answers based on historic records.
According to the records, we find that Nile green contains only copper and chromium as colorants, in about the same ratio as in “Green #5,” but in very much lower concentrations. It does not contain uranium, so would not be expected to fluoresce under UV light. Perhaps Marshall could check his beautiful pale green goblet under black light to see whether or not it fluoresces. The so-called “window-glass green” which has been mentioned (and it is a very apt description) is likely Steuben’s “Celadon,” which contains copper and uranium as colorants, in lower concentrations than in Pomona Green, and with a lower ratio of uranium to copper, and therefore perhaps slightly more bluish-green than Pomona (as well as much paler). “Celadon” was also called “Yellow Marina” in the records and, like Marina Blue, it does fluoresce in UV light. There is a good possibility that David Chadwick-Brown’s goblet may be Celadon. I hope that this information will be helpful.

David Chadwick-Brown adds an addendum.
I apparently failed to specify that the bowl and underplate are straw opal that responded so to black light. I would be interested to know if someone who has a verified opal piece experiences the same, since I doubt the authenticity of my pieces.

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