Glassware has long been considered by societies as an indication of glamor and elegance. And it is no wonder, because after all crystals are the living example of the intriguing behavior of light. That is, through refraction that shows us those beautiful flickering brilliance of the crystals. But what would you think if you discovered that not only can they take on their characteristic translucent appearance, but that there is a type of uranium crystal that emits a green glow when viewed under black light.
It is not very difficult to guess what the compounds of this type of antique tableware are, the name indicates the main component; uranium. Thanks to this element, when objects made with this type of glass are placed under black light or neon light, they flash a glow that reminds us of a radioactive object. However, they do not represent any danger and in fact there are those who use them to serve their lavish dinners under black light.
But how do you create glassware that sparkles? Before the glass goes through artisanal techniques to shape it, uranium is added up to 25% of the element. Either technique is then used to create glassware and sculpt the desired shape. When the crystal finally leaves its melting point and reaches its maximum hardness, it can be placed under a black light to observe its radioactive flashes.
This type of glassware became very popular at the end of the 18th century and its use extended until the mid-20th century. The Cold War was the cause of this type of sparkling glass seeing the decline in its manufacture, since from the 1940s to the 1990s, they became extremely rare pieces. Its manufacture was forgotten due to the war conflicts that the world faced, so there are very few pieces created during this period of time. And as is usual with exotic objects, collectors go after these old and rare pieces.
However, modernity has recovered uranium glassware and today you can purchase uranium tableware so you can enjoy your banquets with a radioactive, but safe touch.