Vaseline glass is a little-known treasure

By Jerry Goldberg
HAWLEY — Figuring out antiques can be quite complicated and tricky. But there's one beguiling collectible that any beginner can get to know right away.

“You didn’t have to become an expert to know Vaseline glass," said Eric Martin, who with his wife, Ida, owns the Hawley Antiques Exchange on Route 6 in Hawley. "All you had to do was take a portable pocket-sized black light, and if it glowed the unique fluorescent yellow green, it was Vaseline glass."

He demonstrated by shining a light on a few of his 6,000 pieces, reported to be the world’s largest collection of this rare antique.

“Only about 3 percent of the educated public in the U.S. know about Vaseline glass," he said.

The antique-filled Exchange, which buys and sells, was handed down to Eric by his father. It's the Lake Region's largest multi-dealershop, a co-op of 30 vendors sprawled over 8,000 square feet.

Martin has never heard of Vaseline glass until a customer came in looking to buy some. He soon became hooked.

What's the special ingredient? It's uranium, which, when viewed under black light, gives the glass a fluorescent glow. The small percentage of uranium — about 2 percent is added to the molten glass — makes the glass fluoresce from yellow to bright chartreuse green.

In the early 1800s Vaseline glass became popular among wealthy people, who bought them as showpieces to be displayed at home. It was much sought after during the Victorian Era, 1837 through 1901, when Queen Victoria of Great Britain reigned.

Everyone was used to seeing fine, clear, crystalline glass. But suddenly colored glass became vogue. Blue glass was made when cobalt was added to the molten mixture, and red glass if gold — yes, real gold — were added. Colored glass is difficult to make, and coming to life during the cooling process.

In the 1880s there were about 100 manufacturers of Vaseline glass. But, Martin says, the only company that still produces Vaseline glass is Mosser Glass of Cambridge, Ohio. Companies were much curtailed in their ability to purchase uranium during and after the Cold War Era, 1940 to 1990.

Martin said the antiques sales business has slowed down a bit. People are holding on to their money during this time of a down economy, he sad. Older citizens are scaling down the size of their homes, and so with less storage space find collecting more difficult.

The Hawley Antiques Exchange is located at state and Route 6 a short distance from the former Castle Antiques building. The phone number is 570 226-1711. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Wednesday.

The website is www.haexchange.com and email is haex@ptd.net.