Vaseline Glass Inkwell

Description

• Form & Body: The inkwell is made from a heavy, solid block of geometric glass. Each of the four vertical faces features a deep, hand-ground horizontal and vertical V-notch cut, which neatly quarters each side into four distinct, raised rectangular panels. This design provides clean architectural lines and beautifully refracts light.
• Hardware: The top is fitted with a polished brass collar and a clean, unadorned flat circular brass lid. The lid functions on a multi-barrel hinge that opens to the interior well.
• Coloration: In natural or warm ambient lighting, the glass displays a classic translucent, pale yellow-green “canary” hue characteristic of traditional leaded Vaseline crystal.

Material Testing Indicators

• Blacklight/UV Reaction: Under a ultraviolet blacklight, the glass reacts with an intense, bright neon-green fluorescence. This vivid reaction is the definitive signature of authentic uranium glass.
• Geiger Counter: A positive Geiger counter test confirms that a small amount of uranium oxide (typically between 1% and 2% by weight) was added to the molten glass batch as a colorant, causing the expected low-level radioactive emissions common to this type of antique art glass.