So, I’ve been diving into this whole amethyst glass thing lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I got super into collecting glassware a while back, you know, those old, colorful pieces you find at flea markets and antique shops. Anyway, I stumbled upon this gorgeous purple vase, and the seller told me it was “amethyst glass.” I was like, “Ooh, fancy!” and snatched it right up.
That was how it started, guys, I went all in. I started looking for those purple glasses like a real manic. When I found some amethyst glass, it was a total hit to my dopamine. I just loved to see them and to own them. Sometimes, when I felt down, I would go get some of those glasses. I’m telling you that I was completely in over my head.
But then I started wondering, what exactly is amethyst glass? Is it just regular glass with some purple dye? Is it actually made from amethyst, the gemstone? I had to know. I did what any sane person would do and went straight to the internet. Turns out, it’s not as simple as I thought.
Here’s the deal: real amethyst glass isn’t made from the gemstone. Bummer, right? It’s basically glass that’s been treated to get that beautiful purple color. From what I gathered, they used to use manganese in the process way back when. I also found out they stopped making it around 1917, which makes sense given how old some of these pieces look.
Now, here’s where things got tricky. I read somewhere that some old glassware might not be safe to eat or drink from. Something about uranium. That got me a little worried about my collection. I don’t want to accidentally poison myself with my pretty purple glasses!
So, I went on another research spree, this time trying to figure out how to tell if my amethyst glass was legit and, more importantly, safe. It was a pain. I mean, there’s so much info out there, and it’s not always easy to separate the facts from the fluff. I looked at a ton of pictures, read articles, and even checked out some collector’s guides. But I wanted to test it in person.
I grabbed a few of my pieces and held them up to the light. Some of them looked more opaque than others, and some had a deeper purple hue. I even tried scratching one with a key (don’t worry, it was a cheap one!). It didn’t leave a mark, which is a good sign, I guess, since real amethyst is supposed to be pretty hard, like a 7 on the Mohs scale, whatever that means.
I was so into those glasses, I even tried to go to some local auctions and antique shows. Man, those things are a whole different world! There are so many people who are into this stuff. I saw some incredible pieces, but they were way out of my price range. Still, it was cool to see them in person and learn more from the dealers and other collectors.
The result
After all this, I’m still not 100% sure about the safety of all my pieces, but I feel a lot more informed about amethyst glass in general. I also felt more confident about buying them since I could tell if some were fake. I’m definitely more careful about using them for food or drinks, just to be on the safe side. Now I mainly use them for decoration, to be honest. But hey, they still look amazing on my shelves, and that’s what matters, right?
- Lesson learned: Don’t believe everything you read on the internet, but also don’t be afraid to do your research.
- Next steps: Maybe find a local expert who can help me authenticate my collection.
- Final thought: Collecting is fun, but safety first!
It’s been a fun journey, and I’m sure I’ll keep adding to my collection. Who knows what other cool glassware I’ll discover along the way? Stay tuned!
