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What EXACTLY is Vaseline Carnival? It's a yellow-green base glass that is iridized. The colorant is
uranium oxide, which is a radio-active substance. The iridescence is
usually marigold, which tends to mask the yellow-green effect of the
base color. Rarely, the iridescence is a light pastel effect (usually
from Northwood and Millersburg) which allows the base color to be seen
readily. 
The vaseline is evident in the handle of this nappy. |
How can I tell it's Vaseline if the tell-tale yellow-green
color is masked by a heavy marigold iridescence?
Get hold of a U.V. (black light). When you shine the U.V. light
on the Vaseline (pick the least iridized part of the glass and go
somewhere away from bright lights for the best effect) it GLOWS a vivid
green. When you first see the effect, it can be a surprise, it's so
bright! It almost looks like it's connected to the power supply. (A keen
collector's eye can usually spot the tell-tale yellow-green base color
of Vaseline Carnival. Turn the piece over and check out the feet or the
collar base, if possible. There you will usually find an un-iridized
portion).
Is it dangerous?
No - not as a piece of Carnival Glass. An acquaintance of ours
is an expert on radio-activity: his scientific know-how regarding radio
activity is world class, and he generously shares his knowledge. In a
recent conversation with him regarding the safety of Vaseline glass
(yes, it's safe, folks - no worries there - but if you are bothered
about it, you can always give it to us!!) - he mentioned that there were
several household items which gave off more radio activity than Vaseline
glass. Take brazil nuts, for example! Now, who'd have thought that? When was it first made and is there Vaseline glass that's not
Carnival?
Uranium glass (Vaseline) was first made commercially in the
1800s. It can also be found with an opalescent edge both as iridized
Carnival and also as non-iridized glass. Vaseline Carnival was first
made by Fenton, Northwood, Imperial and Millersburg (very little is
thought to have been made by Dugan/Diamond) in the Classic Carnival era.
Fenton appear to have made the greater part of the Vaseline Carnival. It
is known in patterns such as Dragon and Lotus, Holly, Grape & Cable and
Featherstitch. Is all glass that glows, Vaseline?
No! But Vaseline is that only glass that glows with a
transparent see-through glow. Other types of glass (both iridized
Carnival and non-Carnival) may glow in other ways. Burmese, for example,
(an opaque glass that shades from a straw yellow to a blush pink) has a
very dense, opaque green glow.
The base of this bowl reveals the vaseline. |
But what on earth causes an orange glow? This question (frequently asked
on the mailing list) was answered by Sheree Quinn. Thanks to Sheree,
John Boyd (of Boyd's Art Glass) informed us that "there are several
metal oxides that fluoresce. The only one that comes to mind that will
flouresce orange in glass is Cadmium Sulfide. It is the only colorant
that will make glass yellow. Actually, cadmium is one of the colorants
that "needs" a reducing flame. But to help it to the brown side (topaz)
I think I would add a pinch of blue, black Copper Oxide."True Vaseline has a vivid, clear fluorescence. Some items have a very
faint, dull glow that can only be seen in the complete dark - this is
not Vaseline. Vaseline glow "jumps out and hits you." Is Vaseline still being made today?
Yes! Both in iridized Carnival and non-iridized glass. Fenton
Art Glass Company, for example, produced it. They use what is termed
uranium oxide depleted - that means that the major radioactive isotopes
have been removed. In the HOACGA journal, June 1991, Frank M. Fenton
reported that Fenton was licensed by the Atomic Energy Commission to buy
uranium oxide. Other glass companies, for example, Summit Art Glass,
also produce vaseline glass today.
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