Collect vintage uranium glass for that peaceful glow

Collect vintage uranium glass for that peaceful glow

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Uranium glass occupies an little-known niche in the collectibles world, whose members appreciate its soft colour and distinctive glow, which comes from the uranium added as the glass was created.

The pieces shown here come from the collection of Peter Marti and Markus Berner, who trade in antique glass at a small shop downstairs from their flat in Wangen an der Aare, a town in Switzerland. They discovered the glass about 15 years ago at a Swiss flea market and have been collecting ever since.

. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Like many uranium glass collectors, they are especially drawn to pearline, which was created by several companies, mostly in Britain, from the end of the 19th century into the 20th.

Yellow pearline is called vaseline, because the shade is similar to the colour of petroleum jelly - until it's exposed to ultraviolet light, when it glows a bright green.

The glass is slightly radioactive, enough to register on Geiger counters. But the levels are about the same as electrical appliances like microwave ovens emit, so they represent no threat to health.

Before & After

Before
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
After
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Before: Roses stand in a Bernsdorf Uranium Glass vase.
After: A Bernsdorf Uranium Glass vase glows under ultraviolet light.

Before & After

Before
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
After
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Before: A 1950's swiss made travel alarm clock sits on a bedside table.
After: The dial of a 1950's swiss made travel alarm clock glows under ultraviolet light.

Before & After

Before
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
After
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Before: A 1950's fluorescent pearl rosary sits on an Art-Deco burl wood desk.
After: A fluorescent pearl rosary glows under ultraviolet light.

Before & After

Before
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
After
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Before: A Cranberry vase decorated with Uranium Glass details stands on a side table.
After: The Uranium Glass details of a Cranberry vase glow under ultraviolet light.

Before & After

Before
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
After
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Before: Art-Deco Uranium Glass jewellery sits on a chest of drawers.
After: Art-Deco Uranium Glass jewellery glows under ultraviolet light.

Before & After

Before
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
After
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Before: A vintage Uranium Glass candle holder stands on a table.
After: A vintage Uranium Glass candle holder glows under ultraviolet light.

Before & After

Before
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
After
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Before: An Art Nouveau Uranium Glass table lamp stands on a bedside table.
After: An Art Nouveau Uranium Glass table lamp glows under ultraviolet light.

Before & After

Before
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
After
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Before: A vintage Opalescent Glass salt or pepper shaker stands on a table.
After: A vintage Opalescent Glass salt or pepper shaker glows under ultraviolet light.

Before & After

Before
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
After
. Wangen An Der Aare, Switzerland. Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

Before: Vintage Uranium Glass bottles stand on a table.
After: Vintage Uranium Glass bottles glow under ultraviolet light.