Burmese glass
Encyclopedia
Burmese glass is a type of opaque
colored art glass
, shading from yellow
to pink
, found in either the rare original "shiny" finish or the more common "satin" finish. It is used for table glass
and small, ornamental vases and dressing table articles.
It was patented in 1885 by the Mount Washington Glass Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA. Burmese glass found favor with Queen Victoria
, and from 1886, the British company of Thomas Webb & Sons was licensed to produce their own version known as Queen's Burmeseware, which was used for tableware and decorative glass, often with painted decoration.
The formula to produce Burmese Glass contains Uranium oxide
with tincture of gold
added. The uranium oxide produced the inherent soft yellow color of Burmese glass. Because of the added gold, the characteristic pink blush of color of Burmese was fashioned by re-heating th object in the furnace
(The "Glory Hole.") The length of time in the furnace will determine the intensity of the color. Strangely, if the objects is subjected to the
heat again, it will return to the original yellow color.
Actually, on the queens visit to the United States The Mount Washington glass company made for her a tea cup and saucer it was presented to her to which she exclaimed, "it looks like a burmese sunset" That is where the name Burmese came from for the Glass, The design painted on the cup and saucer by the famous Mt Washington artist Timothy Canty became known as Queens Burmese design. Mt Washington glass company, of New Bedford, Mass.. patented Queens design Burmese, not Thomas Webb and sons.
Opacity (optics)
Opacity is the measure of impenetrability to electromagnetic or other kinds of radiation, especially visible light. In radiative transfer, it describes the absorption and scattering of radiation in a medium, such as a plasma, dielectric, shielding material, glass, etc...
colored art glass
Art glass
Definitions of art glass can be as complex and contentious as definitions of what constitutes "art" and will inevitably include many refinements and exceptions...
, shading from yellow
Yellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
to pink
Pink
Pink is a mixture of red and white. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century....
, found in either the rare original "shiny" finish or the more common "satin" finish. It is used for table glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
and small, ornamental vases and dressing table articles.
It was patented in 1885 by the Mount Washington Glass Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA. Burmese glass found favor with Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
, and from 1886, the British company of Thomas Webb & Sons was licensed to produce their own version known as Queen's Burmeseware, which was used for tableware and decorative glass, often with painted decoration.
The formula to produce Burmese Glass contains Uranium oxide
Uranium oxide
Uranium oxide is an oxide of the element uranium.The metal uranium forms several oxides:* Uranium dioxide or uranium oxide * Uranium trioxide or uranium oxide...
with tincture of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
added. The uranium oxide produced the inherent soft yellow color of Burmese glass. Because of the added gold, the characteristic pink blush of color of Burmese was fashioned by re-heating th object in the furnace
Furnace
A furnace is a device used for heating. The name derives from Latin fornax, oven.In American English and Canadian English, the term furnace on its own is generally used to describe household heating systems based on a central furnace , and sometimes as a synonym for kiln, a device used in the...
(The "Glory Hole.") The length of time in the furnace will determine the intensity of the color. Strangely, if the objects is subjected to the
heat again, it will return to the original yellow color.
Actually, on the queens visit to the United States The Mount Washington glass company made for her a tea cup and saucer it was presented to her to which she exclaimed, "it looks like a burmese sunset" That is where the name Burmese came from for the Glass, The design painted on the cup and saucer by the famous Mt Washington artist Timothy Canty became known as Queens Burmese design. Mt Washington glass company, of New Bedford, Mass.. patented Queens design Burmese, not Thomas Webb and sons.