Richardson's Vaseline Glass

Richardson's vaseline glass dish c1880

Stourbridge had been an important centre for glass making from the 17th century and by the early 19th century many firms in the area were well established in the production of quality glass. By the 1870s as the Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts movements began to influence public taste, the glass houses responded by introducing new materials and techniques. Richardson's were at the forefront of this, producing some fine and innovative opalescent hand made glass. Adding uranium to the mix and controlled reheating of the item produced degrees of a golden lemon yellow opalescence, which was subsequently called vaseline glass. For more details see Premier Antiques