(((( Shakers That Glow )))) Part 2

Vaseline glass is the most obvious and really is what comes to mind when speaking of glass that glows. Usually found in a bright, clear yellow, to the purest, that is the only color that earns the name, Vaseline Glass. However, I believe it can have a yellow to greenish appearance too. Most that I’m familiar with is shiny in finish, however, there are examples that are a satin finish like the Mt Washington Fig to name one. Vaseline glass can also comes “Cased” with an inner white lining to give it an extra dimension. When these pieces are exposed to a black light, they take on a whole difference appearance. Many opalescent pieces are also produced in Vaseline glass.

Burmese Glass comes in both a satin finish and shiny finish. This type of glass may be decorated too. The custard color when reheated will bring out a salmon or rose coloring starting from the top of the piece downward. Depending on the heat applied, determines how much of the coloring appears. Pieces that are all custard in appearance are often called “Undeveloped” Burmese glass. This type of glass will glow under a black light due to the uranium salts used in the formula. The predominant manufacturer of this type of glass in this country was Mt. Washington Glass Company as well as a variety of foreign manufacturers. This type of glass is typically opaque in appearance.
Custard glass, very similar in appearance to undeveloped Burmese is usually shiny in finish. The Uranium content in the glass formula allows it to glow when put under a black light. Depending on the formula, custard glass can vary from a creamy light off white, typically found in the Northwood formula, to a more variations of yellow typically found on old Fenton pieces. Some manufacturers that made custard glass are Northwood, Fenton, Jefferson, Heisey, and Tarentum. Some may be so yellow, it’s almost translucent in appearance depending upon the formula. The color can also vary due to quality control that was minimal in those days.

Many custard shakers are decorated and may be “Souvenir” items. Often with the name of a town or event and may even have a date on it. There are also examples of shakers like the one shown below that are stained with a color. This particular example has a Green stain, a harder to find color in a Northwood custard piece in my opinion.

This brings us to harder to find colors that will glow. Shown is a Peachblow (cased) piece that glows. This, I believe, is most likely foreign in origin. The piece has a custard quality in its base glass that allows it to glow.
The other interesting pieces, as I mentioned earlier are pieces that are often blue, or even a teal color that may glow. I have no data or proof that all pieces that are in the blue category glow nor am I stating that. In fact most do not, but some do. This example here, and they don’t center on one manufacturer was produced by Dithridge (Beaded Bottom). Many green opaque pieces will glow which gives many common pieces interesting dimension.
I’m sure that there may be many other colors and types of glass that may glow and that gives a collector the will to keep looking for other and new examples.
The point is, glass that glows can turn up in almost any color. Whether it’s intentional or by chance due to quality control. They can, when gathered into a large group, make a most impressive display when either displayed in natural or a black light! So, everyone should take that black light and check your collection. It does not have to be shakers, but all of your collection to see what glows!
I’ve tried to picture the glass in this article with different degrees of black lighting. This will allow one to see the pieces in enough natural light to look at the pattern and well as its decoration if it possesses it. In addition also see that the pieces do glow.