Imperial Glass Green Uranium 'Dolphin' Candlestick, c.1920s

Story

During the 1920s, American glassmakers added trace amounts of uranium to their batches to achieve a vibrant green hue. Nobody foresaw that decades later, collectors would use blacklights to make these everyday tablewares glow like magic.

Maker / Origin

Founded in 1901 in Bellaire, Ohio, the Imperial Glass Company became one of the giants of the American handmade glass industry. They were famous for their innovative color formulas and carnival glass, surviving the Great Depression by pivoting to affordable, beautifully designed pressed tableware.

Condition & Value

The candlestick appears to be in very good vintage condition with no obvious chips or cracks visible under the UV light. Minor shelf wear on the bottom of the base is expected; chips on the delicate fins or rim would reduce the value by 30-50%. Value is driven by the popularity of the 'dolphin' shape among uranium glass collectors.