Most Expensive Uranium Glass Collectibles
/granite-web-prod/6d/54/6d54e958a5704a56a33f3b5de8d942f6.jpeg)
If you spend any time at all at flea markets, estate sales, or looking at collectibles on eBay or Etsy, you'll find that uranium glass is popular among seekers of all things vintage.
Uranium glass (also known as "Vaseline" glass due to its petroleum jelly color) contains uranium oxide. If you place it under a black light, it glows. That glow means it's radioactive. While the levels of radioactivity are usually quite low, it varies from item to item. This glassware is safe to own, but not to use, especially in a microwave.
Uranium glass is relatively inexpensive, but some pieces, depending on the designer and era, can be quite valuable. Here are some items that sold for considerably more than usual in recent years.
21. Beaumont Glass Company Bowl (Tie)
/granite-web-prod/4c/d9/4cd9ceac99a644f8ae3c3018755aeddf.jpeg)
Sold: April 13, 2022
Value: $330
Bottom Line: Beaumont Glass Company Bowl
/granite-web-prod/41/3d/413d4dc1b7e4463689eca728abb77f5a.jpeg)
This pretty bowl was made by the Beaumont Glass Company in Martins Ferry, West Virginia, around the turn of the last century.
The company became known for its "Columbia" glass, named after the Columbian Exposition of 1893.
21. Flavio Poli Sommerso Ashtray (Tie)
/granite-web-prod/7a/52/7a52f3f57a4347e3abb1a5a546d4665b.jpeg)
Sold: April 13, 2022
Value: $330
Bottom Line: Flavio Poli Sommerso Ashtray
/granite-web-prod/43/70/4370850e9b11491aa72f83ae1d6206ff.jpeg)
"Sommerso" is the Italian term for "submerged." This glassware technique promotes the illusion of colors on top of one another that remain unmixed.
The addition of uranium glass results in a stunning product, like this one from Italian designer Flavio Poli.
20. Red Bowl by Flavio Poly for Seguso
/granite-web-prod/25/b6/25b600181a1545d79e94335a05a7b31c.jpeg)
Sold: July 8, 2022
Value: $333.69
Bottom Line: Red Uranium Glass Bowl by Flavio Poly for Seguso
/granite-web-prod/e8/17/e8174e3d52f44348abef0d545b05eceb.jpeg)
This MCM bowl by Flavio Poly for Seguso Verti D'arte just goes to show that not all uranium glass is green.
The bowl is bright red in normal light, but with a black light on it, it looks like an alien life form, doesn't it?
19. Jack-in-the-Pulpit Vase
/granite-web-prod/d7/29/d7298acccbd34f1c9837f289a02f19cc.jpeg)
Sold: July 27, 2022
Value: $345
Bottom Line: Jack-in-the-Pulpit Vase
/granite-web-prod/ef/17/ef1797ae9304407c89c00842a5470389.jpeg)
"Jack-in-the-Pulpit" describes glassware with its collar pulled down in the front and raised at the back — it resembles the real flower of the same name and also kind of looks like a Venus Flytrap.
This Victorian-era vase is part pigeon's blood (a shade of red that was popular in that time period), part uranium glass and wholly unique.
18. Licio Zanetti Shark
/granite-web-prod/e9/14/e914002ace214c0b98fc2c09644e04e4.jpeg)
Sold: May 14, 2022
Value: $350
Bottom Line: Licio Zanetti Shark
/granite-web-prod/68/c8/68c85f26099f487bba5428145da43e77.jpeg)
Zanetti Murano was founded in 1956 by Licio Zanetti, the designer of this piece. The business, located in Venice, Italy, is run by Oscar Zanetti, Licio's great-grandson.
The shark above looks to be a mid-century modern design from the 1950s or 1960s.
17. Bohemian Decanter
/granite-web-prod/65/9f/659faf844997457ebf1621655c647822.jpeg)
Sold: May 30, 2022
Value: $365
Bohemian Decanter
/granite-web-prod/5a/0d/5a0d29663ea64315a7c65971fd238219.jpeg)
Not much is known about the maker of this mid-century modern decanter from the 1960s, but its ornate beauty is well-worth the cost.
True to its era, it is reminiscent of Jeanie's bottle in "I Dream of Jeanie."
16. Boyd Beehive Container
/granite-web-prod/f5/75/f5754cc49b2b45ac83c28518ceb6ae18.jpeg)
Sold: July 27, 2022
Value: $367
Bottom line: Boyd Beehive Container
/granite-web-prod/52/99/529988eb04e14679a2fdd84eba6efc51.jpeg)
Boyd is a relatively new glassware company — it began in 1978 and is still in business today — although the family has been designing glassware since the turn of the last century.
For lovers of all things bees, you can't beat this cute glass beehive!
15. Fish Bowl
/granite-web-prod/e9/af/e9afe44b3f934fc28974a8f2aad0bae5.jpeg)
Sold: July 15, 2022
Value: $374.99
Bottom Line: Fish Bowl
/granite-web-prod/3b/5e/3b5e1a2669d04ad497920cd6d190b146.jpeg)
Even fish bowls were sometimes made with uranium glass.
At 7.5-inches tall and 1-foot wide, this one is on the bigger side, and it can be used for just about anything today, although seeing a goldfish in it would be amazing.
14. Gibson Mushroom
/granite-web-prod/67/2b/672bd6d8388942218063996e6c70f6bd.jpeg)
Sold: May 12, 2022
Value: $380
Bottom Line: Gibson Mushroom
/granite-web-prod/79/18/79186df0f41f41f29f4570457820fe65.jpeg)
This groovy mushroom was made by the Gibson Glass Company in Milton, West Virginia. Founded by designer Charles Gibson, who worked for various glass companies beginning in 1950s, Gibson Glass opened in 1976 and closed a year later when Gibson became a pastor.
The company reopened again in 1983 and stayed open until 2006, but the pieces from the 1970s are the most desirable, as their production time was much shorter.
13. Steuben Wine Glasses
/granite-web-prod/dc/11/dc11a47a017345b8ba20e43f76406158.jpeg)
Sold: July 27, 2022
Value: $390
Bottom Line: Steuben Wine Glasses
/granite-web-prod/a6/c9/a6c9b183be06436286fff82d076759e3.jpeg)
Steuben Glass was founded in 1903. The company initially made glassware that came in three shades — citron, jade yellow and Bristol.
The early glasses from the company are not signed, but they are no doubt Steuben and feature a delicate art deco design.
11. Riihimäki Vase (Tie)
/granite-web-prod/5d/a0/5da0fa3cede44d3499ba64d78928ddce.jpeg)
Sold: May 12, 2022
Value: $405
Bottom Line: Riihimäki Vase
/granite-web-prod/a4/7e/a47ebca2a5254836a124e036679c0856.jpeg)
This mid-century modern vase was made by the Finnish company Riihimäki, which made glassware in the town of the same name until 1976.
The company's high-quality glass ornaments like the one above are extremely sought-after collectibles.
11. Vaseline Glass Buddha, Yellow Uranium Glass, Heavy (Tie)
/granite-web-prod/fd/59/fd59e8fe45ef434dad2703e519adddeb.jpeg)
Sold: May 12, 2022
Value: $405
Bottom Line: Vaseline Glass Buddha, Yellow Uranium Glass, Heavy
/granite-web-prod/3b/6d/3b6d4e2a8fe747caa9c7fd1310692e0e.jpeg)
There are some items made from uranium glass with religious themes, and they're rarer than standard kitchenware made in the same way.
This unmarked Buddha (maker unknown) has a pensive, ethereal glow.
10. L. E. Smith Glass Yellow Moon and Star Lidded Compote
/granite-web-prod/d7/2b/d72b854714fe4104851bae1856f7db27.jpeg)
Sold: June 12, 2022
Value: $455
Bottom Line: L. E. Smith Glass Yellow Moon and Star Lidded Compote
/granite-web-prod/8e/04/8e04e71f8c28446a8dd469162a8a03f0.jpeg)
The L.E. Smith Glass Company was located in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and was primarily known for its crackle and pattern glassware.
Its Moon and Star pieces are a product of the 1960s. In 1962, the company officially contracted with glass designer Joseph Weishar of the Island Mold Company to create this line.
9. Antique Art Deco Uranium Glass Samovar Water Dispenser Cooler Silver Plate
/granite-web-prod/c8/7e/c87ed607b6bf4bf093897fbb1fe3846e.jpeg)
Sold: May 24, 2022
Value: $456
Bottom Line: Art Deco Samovar Water Dispenser
/granite-web-prod/5d/e5/5de59bd49205494fbbcae2ef7b4208b6.jpeg)
This unmarked water dispenser is from about the 1920s and went for a pretty penny on eBay.
Although it looks like this dispenser could be a useful centerpiece at a formal dinner or bunch, it's best to keep it only for show.
8. Walther & Sohne Three Graces Centerpiece
/granite-web-prod/2c/19/2c198b5b9cc448b7824e934b23eda743.jpeg)
Sold: April 27, 2022
Value: $478
Bottom Line: Walther & Söhne Three Grace Centerpiece
/granite-web-prod/f1/f8/f1f8fc10646f47d38f834ad85c99731f.jpeg)
Walther & Söhne was established in 1888 in Germany and was best known for its range of art deco glassware, including centerpieces, figurines, bowls, and vases, most of which were made during the 1930s and 40s.
This stunning piece stands at about a foot tall and has a strong glow under UV light.
7. Scallop Shell Dish Bowl
/granite-web-prod/04/d2/04d264662b144e39934fd7a79888f180.jpeg)
Sold: July 31, 2022
Value: $563.38
Bottom Line: Scallop Shell Dish Bowl
/granite-web-prod/8d/42/8d421e38e56949d88b6472726a7a7825.jpeg)
If you never held this scallop shell bowl up to a black light, you would never know it was uranium glass, as it has none of the tell-tale elements.
However, this heavy but small bowl made in France is one of the best examples on this list.
6. Belmont Daisy Button Compote
/granite-web-prod/89/50/89508c09815c4e8da194aac4af87a16a.jpeg)
Sold: July 4, 2022
Value: $566
Bottom Line: Belmont Daisy Button Compote
/granite-web-prod/45/1a/451a73bddab548809176de74d4ad1e0c.jpeg)
Any Belmont piece is very rare. The company existed in Bellaire, Ohio, only between 1866 and 1890.
The company's "Daisy Button" line features glassware pieces with a lacy trim around their outside edges.
5. Mosser Trojan Horse
/granite-web-prod/15/a8/15a8f735b4e34f638e831808fb2a873c.jpeg)
Sold: May 16, 2022
Value: $600
Bottom Line: Mosser Trojan Horse
/granite-web-prod/42/de/42de95b0bafd4c54be5bcb82976b07a5.jpeg)
The Mosser Glass Company began in 1964 in Cambridge, Ohio, and is still with us today. The horse above can be found in different colors (some for less money) for sale around the internet.
Mosser still makes glass animals and other items, but they no longer use uranium glass.
4. Dugan Ruffled Pony Bowl
/granite-web-prod/0a/f9/0af98c16edfa453baa7bbc828a6204ce.jpeg)
Sold: April 13, 2022
Value: $699
Bottom Line: Dugan Ruffled Pony Bowl
/granite-web-prod/2b/ea/2beafed2ad6241b7aa7c013579bd1473.jpeg)
Dugan Glass is well over a hundred years old. The company began in Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 1892 and operated under that name until 1913, when it became Diamond Glass. In 1931, it was lost in a fire.
The Dugan and Diamond companies were mostly known for making carnival glass, which is also highly collectible today.
3. Bride's Basket
/granite-web-prod/30/8b/308b439e826d4d87ba858d18defe4671.jpeg)
Sold: July 27, 2022
Value: $735
Bottom Line: Bride's Basket
/granite-web-prod/16/a0/16a08c03de4f42a6ab4fcff25664b838.jpeg)
In the 1880s, these bowls were a popular bridal gift. They were originally referred to as cake, berry or fruit baskets because that's what typically came in them.
This glass bowl and the ornate silver frame can be displayed separately or together.
2. Jeanette Jadeite Canisters
/granite-web-prod/50/2f/502f385b302f485ea97b3bd696b01b0b.jpeg)
Sold: April 9, 2022
Value: $961
Bottom Line: Jeanette Jadeite Canisters
/granite-web-prod/33/e5/33e5ba29429e4e83ba3795bc0978f9c5.jpeg)
Jadeite kitchenware is still popular (Martha Stewart carries her own line), and many of the pieces you see in stores today are made from the same molds as vintage pieces.
Jeannette was a company that put out its own jadeite glassware in the 1930s under the name "Jadite." Some are unmarked, but early pieces have the letter "J" in a triangle on the bottom of the piece.
1. Fenton Burmese Blue Bird GWTW Mini Lamp
/granite-web-prod/f4/47/f447636087a9429ca958c285f1a369d9.jpeg)
Sold: April 28, 2022
Value: $2,399
Bottom Line: Fenton Burmese Blue Bird GWTW Mini Lamp
/granite-web-prod/fe/d9/fed90af6c80d4a2f8d97a6c798318eea.jpeg)
Burmese glass was created by Frederick Shirley at the Mount Washington Glass Company. It made with uranium oxide and reduced gold, which resulted in yellowish opaque glass that blends into salmon pink.
Burmese glass was popular during the Victorian era. This lamp is a "Gone With the Wind" lamp or "hurricane" lamp, which was named as such due to its ability to protect any flame from sudden drafts via a glass chimney.