Antique art deco 1920s uranium glass dressing table jar in incredible condition. This stunning jar, under UV, lights up and looks amazing ( unfortunately I cannot show this in the pictures). A great collectors piece or if you are a collector of art deco.
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Some very minor age related wear.
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10 cm tall
12 cm wide top
6 cm base
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Uranium glass was first produced in the 1830s in Bohemia by Josef Riedel and gained significant popularity in the late 19th century during the Victorian and Art Nouveau eras. Its production was curtailed during World War II and the subsequent Cold War, as uranium was reclassified as a strategic material. While a few artisans still create it, most uranium glass is now found as vintage or antique collectibles.
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Early development
1830s: Josef Riedel began creating uranium glass in his Bohemian factory. He named a yellow version "Annaberg" and a green version "Annagruen" after his wife.
1830s-1840s: Other manufacturers in Europe and the United States began producing uranium glass.
Late 19th Century: Uranium glass saw a surge in popularity, driven by its unique glow under ultraviolet light. Companies like the Whitefriars Glass Company in London helped bring it to the mass market.
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Early 1900s: The first examples of "vaseline glass," which has a milky or opaque appearance, were produced by adding heat-sensitive chemicals to the mixture.
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Production pause and revival
1942-1958: The availability of uranium for commercial use was stopped in many places due to World War II and the Cold War. The U.S. government, for example, confiscated uranium supplies for the Manhattan Project.
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Post-1958: Once uranium was decontrolled, production resumed, but often using depleted uranium instead of natural uranium.
Present Day: While only a few specialists continue to make uranium glass, it is now primarily collected as a vintage or antique item.
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Art Deco is a design style that originated in the 1920s and flourished until World War II, named after the 1925 Paris exposition. It's characterized by a streamlined, geometric aesthetic with bold colors and luxurious materials, reflecting the era's optimism, modernity, and progress. Influenced by movements like Cubism, Futurism, and ancient art, it combined traditional craftsmanship with new technologies and materials like chrome and lacquer.
Key aspects of Art Deco's history
Origins and formal debut: The style's diverse influences—including Art Nouveau, ancient Egyptian and Aztec art, and the machine age—began appearing before World War I. Its formal introduction to the world was at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, from which it derived its name.
The "Roaring Twenties": Art Deco became the visual embodiment of the Jazz Age, a period of prosperity, cultural revolution, and technological advancement. It represented a break from the past and celebrated a glamorous, modern, and fast-paced urban lifestyle.
Spread and influence: The style quickly spread globally, becoming popular in Europe and the United States. It influenced a wide range of fields, including architecture (like the Chrysler Building), fashion, furniture, and jewelry.
End of the era: Art Deco's popularity waned with the start of World War II in 1939. However, its influence continued, inspiring revivals like the postmodern Memphis style in the 1980s.
