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Here are some examples of opalescent glass shakers. As you can see they come decorated and undecorated. The decorated examples are harder to come by though.
Sets are typically made in Clear, Blue,Vaseline, and Cranberry opalescent. The opalescent patterns were created by adding a layer of clear glass with bone ash in it. Once heated, the bone ash treated layer will turn a milky white. This will create a pattern following the pattern created in the "Spot Mold" in the colored layer.
Typically you will find opalescent shakers in one of four colors. The colors are cranberry, blue, vaseline, and clear. There are some harder to find colors such as green, amethyst, rubina, rubina verde, and amberina to mention a few.
A set may consist of a salt and pepper or may have the addition of a mustard jar and maybe even a small cruet bottle. There are some additional pieces that may be with the set but separate. That would be a toothpick holder and/or larger cruets, sugar shaker, and syrup jug.
The sets may come in basically two different ways. They may come with all the pieces the same color or each piece a different color. Many sets were housed in ornate silverplate holders and to a lesser extent a glass and silverplate holder.
Some of the patterns that were made are Coin Dot, Reverse Swirl, Swirl, Stripe, Windows, and Opal Lattice.
There are lots of other patterns to be found in opalescent shakers such a Daisy and Fern and Spanish Lace. However, I decided that this article will concentrate on more geometric patterns. I think they show better in this type of glass.
Opalescent glass has been reproduced extensively over the years. This has hurt the collecting category a bit. The most important thing to understand is to handle as many pieces as possible, both old pieces and reproductions. This will get you familiar with the different kinds of pieces. Also, educate yourself by reading books and talking to other collectors as much as possible. This will help you from making costly mistakes.
Photo and information donated to the Gallery By Scott
More Photos are located In Scott's Collections Under The Members Collections Section Of The Gallery |
