Slag glass, a type of opaque, streaked, antique pressed glass that originated in England in the late 19th century, was used in glassware items such as lampshades, jugs, wine glasses and beakers.
Manufacture
It is thought that manufacturers created slag glass by taking slag, the waste content of metal ores, from iron-smelting works and adding it to molten glass. The process created a variety of effects, such as tortoiseshell and marbling.
Characteristics
Slag glass is often found in purple and sometimes in blue, brown and green, with streaks and swirls of white or cream. The glass originally went by descriptive names, such as “Marble Glass” or “Brown Malachite.” The British company Sowerby patented its recipe for purple malachite in 1878 and later produced a famous and now rare brown malachite.
Lampshades
Lampshades were a popular application of slag glass in both England the United States. Nearly any lamp maker from the Art Nouveau period, such as Tiffany, may have used slag glass in their lampshades.
Collecting
Dealers and collectors tend to refer to any type of pressed antique glass containing colored swirls or streaks as “slag glass.” According to Collectors Weekly.com, the key to identifying “true” slag is to look for obviously and richly marbled glass.
References
Resources
Writer Bio
Elise Moore has a master's degree in English. She enjoys writing about party planning and has greatly expanded her knowledge of the visual and plastic arts while researching articles for various websites.
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