Iridescent glass

Tiffany vase
MFA# 1999.465

Description

Any Glass with a shimmery iridescent surface. Iridescent glass was first made in 1863 by Llobmeyr. It is made by one of three types of processes:

• The glass is placed in a reducing flame to reduce oxides near the surface to their metallic state.
• The glass in placed in a sealed container with metallic salt fumes. Stannous chloride is most often used.
• The glass is painted with a thin metallic luster paint then fired. The metallic luster paint was composed of a metallic salt in a natural resin binder.

Iridescent glass was used by Tiffany and other art glass companies. The most popular type of iridescent glass was mother-of-pearl. It was made with a thin coating of Bismuth.

Synonyms and Related Terms

iriserend glas (Ned.); vidro iridescente (Port.)

Resources and Citations

• Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996