Amberina

Amberina. It is a distinctive type of art glass renowned for its characteristic shading from a deep ruby red at the top to a pale amber or yellow at the bottom, achieved through a specialized reheating process. First developed in the late 19th century, it became a highly popular and commercially successful product of the American glass industry during the Victorian era. The glass is closely associated with the innovative work of the New England Glass Company and its successor, the Libbey Glass Company.

History

The invention of this glass is credited to the English-born glassmaker Joseph Locke while he was employed at the New England Glass Company in East Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1883. Locke was experimenting with the effects of heat on glass containing gold chloride, a method used for centuries to create ruby glass. His discovery of the shading technique was patented in 1884, granting the company exclusive production rights. Following the closure of the New England Glass Company, the formula and production were continued with great success by the newly formed Libbey Glass Company, which showcased its wares prominently at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. The popularity of the glass spanned the Gilded Age and influenced subsequent art glass movements.

Composition and properties

The unique color gradient is a direct result of its chemical composition and controlled thermal treatment. The glass batch includes a small amount of gold chloride as a coloring agent, a technique with origins in European ruby glass production dating back to the 17th century, such as that attributed to Johann Kunckel. When the blown glass object is partially reheated, the section exposed to the highest heat develops the rich ruby hue, while the cooler areas retain a lighter amber or citron yellow tone. The shading is permanent and intrinsic to the material, not a surface treatment. This sets it apart from other contemporary art glasses like Pomona or Mary Gregory glass, which rely on painted or stained decoration.

Production and techniques

Manufacture began with gathering molten glass from a pot containing the gold-infused batch. After the object was blown into its desired shape, such as a cruet, pitcher, or vase, it underwent a critical reheating process in a special furnace known as a glory hole. The craftsman would hold the piece so that only the upper portion was subjected to intense heat, triggering the reduction of the gold particles and causing that area to transform to ruby red. The process required precise skill to control the gradient. The Libbey Glass Company later produced it using pressed glass methods as well, creating more affordable items like spooners and tumblers. Distinctive patterns such as Swirl, Rib, and Thumbprint were common.

Variants and related glass

Several derivative and related types of glass emerged following its success. Plated Amberina features a casing of clear crystal over the colored glass. Agata, also developed by Joseph Locke, is a mottled glass that uses a similar heat-sensitive technique but with different chemicals. Later, the Mount Washington Glass Company produced a similar shaded glass known as Rose Amber. Other companies created their own versions, sometimes generically called "amberina" without the capital letter, such as those made by the Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Company. It is also considered a direct precursor to the more dramatic shading found in Peachblow glass and Wave Crest ware.

Collectibility and value

Authentic period pieces, especially those with the original New England Glass Company or Libbey Glass Company provenance, are highly sought after by collectors of Victorian decorative arts. Value is determined by factors such as form, size, pattern, and the sharpness and beauty of the color gradient. Rare forms like whimseys, large compotes, or intricate punch bowls command significant premiums at auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie's. Later pressed glass versions are more common and less valuable. Condition is paramount, as damage or significant wear greatly diminishes value. It remains a staple in collections of American brilliant period glass and is featured in major institutions like the Corning Museum of Glass and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Category:Glass types Category:American art glass Category:Victorian decorative arts