How do you identify uranium glass?

Identify uranium glass by combining a bright green glow through the body under UV light with daylight color, form, and pattern. Glow alone does not prove age or maker. Modern uranium glass exists, and manganese-decolorized glass can show a weaker yellow-green reaction.

Is Vaseline glass the same as uranium glass?

In collector usage, Vaseline glass usually means transparent canary yellow or yellow-green uranium glass that looks a bit like petroleum jelly. Uranium glass is the broader term and also includes some custard, opalescent, and Depression-era greens. Sellers use “Vaseline” loosely, so still UV-test and match the pattern.

Does all uranium glass glow under UV light?

Most does, in an electric apple-green or lime-green. Strength varies with uranium content, thickness, surface condition, and whether you use a 365 nm or 395 nm light. A weak test does not automatically rule it out; a strong green glow is an important clue, not a date.

Can UV testing tell me how old the glass is?

No. UV testing can suggest uranium content. Age comes from pattern, mold details, wear, and documented comparisons. Some new decorative glass is made with uranium or other fluorescent additives.

Is uranium glass dangerous to display?

Most intact collectible uranium glass is commonly displayed by collectors. Do not grind, sand, drill, or break it, and be cautious about food use in chipped or unknown pieces. This page is not radiation-safety advice; ask a qualified professional if you have a large collection or an unusual object.

Can an app confirm uranium glass from a photo?

A daylight-plus-UV photo pair can help a scan suggest a type or pattern family. The app cannot measure radioactivity, certify Vaseline glass, or replace a specialist for signed art glass or lamps. Three scans are included on the free tier.

How to Identify Uranium Glass & Vaseline Glass

Uranium glass vs Vaseline glass

Uranium glass is glass colored with uranium compounds. Vaseline glass identification, in collector language, usually means the transparent yellow to yellow-green type that resembles petroleum jelly. The terms overlap; they are not identical.

Vaseline glass: typically transparent canary / yellow-green with a strong green UV glow.
Custard uranium glass: opaque cream or pale yellow that may glow brightly.
Some Depression-era greens and topaz: pressed tableware that happens to contain uranium. Identify the Depression pattern on the Depression glass identification page; use this page for the glow test.
Burmese-style shading: yellow-to-pink claims need pattern and maker evidence, not glow alone.

How to UV test

A 365 nm flashlight usually gives a cleaner reaction with less purple glare. A common 395 nm blacklight can still work. Test in a dim room, wipe dust off, and shine through thicker areas such as the foot, handle, or base. True uranium glass typically glows electric apple-green or lime-green through the body, not only as a surface sheen.

Use fresh batteries so the beam is strong.
Compare with a known non-uranium glass item in the same shot.
Photograph daylight color and the UV reaction from the side.
Do not treat a phone-filter “UV” mode as a substitute for a real UV torch.

What can be mistaken for uranium glass

Manganese-decolorized glass: weaker yellow-green glow, especially in clear or sun-purpled ware.
Selenium or cadmium colors: orange, red, or amber reactions — not classic Vaseline glass.
Modern decorative glass: some new pieces use uranium or other fluorescent additives. UV is not a dating method.

Pattern and maker clues

Describe daylight color first (canary, citron, custard, opalescent, green), then form and pattern. U.S. names collectors research include Fenton, Northwood, Heisey, Cambridge, Tiffin, Fostoria, Westmoreland, Hazel-Atlas, and Hocking. British and Bohemian research may involve Davidson, Sowerby, Bagley, and Jobling. A mark helps; many pieces are unmarked. Pattern books and sold records beat a color-only guess.

For pressed pattern families that are not about glow, start at antique glassware identification. Crystal with sharp wheel cuts belongs on the vintage crystal glass identification chart.

Display, care, and value

Most intact uranium glass in collections is treated as low-level and commonly displayed. Do not grind, sand, drill, or intentionally break it. Prefer display over food use when the piece is chipped, cracked, or unknown. Wash by hand with mild soap; avoid dishwashers and sudden temperature changes. This is practical collector caution, not a substitute for professional radiation advice.

Value depends on rarity, maker evidence, pattern, form, color, condition, and original lids — not on how brightly a piece glows in a listing photo. Compare sold prices for the same pattern, size, color, and condition.

Read the identification and valuation disclaimer before using any estimate to buy, sell, or insure a piece.

FAQ

Scan your glass or download the antique app

Free to start: three photo scans on the web or in the iOS/Android app. Optional premium unlocks more identifications. This is a research aid, not a formal appraisal.

Scan a uranium glass photo

Keep going with sister glass guides:

Antique glassware identification — Pressed glass pattern identification, antique glass patterns, and maker clues
Depression glass identification — Patterns, colors, and value factors for 1920s–1940s machine-made glass
Vintage crystal glass identification chart — Cut vs pressed, stemware measurements, and crystal maker marks