Vaseline glass is sometimes used as a synonym for any uranium glass, especially in the United States, but this usage is frowned upon, since Vaseline-brand petroleum jelly was only yellow, not other colors. Specialized collectors still define Vaseline glass as transparent or semi-transparent uranium glass in this specific color. The most common color of uranium glass is pale yellowish-green, which in the 1930s led to the nickname 'Vaseline glass', based on a perceived resemblance to the appearance of Vaseline-brand petroleum jelly as formulated at that time.

Otherwise, modern uranium glass is now mainly limited to small objects like beads or marbles as scientific or decorative novelties. Most such objects are now considered antiques or retro-era collectibles, although there has been a minor revival in art glassware.

Uranium glass was once made into tableware and household items, but fell out of widespread use when the availability of uranium to most industries was sharply curtailed during the Cold War in the 1940s to 1990s. James Powell’s Whitefriars glass company in London, England, was one of the first to market the glowing glass, but other manufacturers soon realised its sales potential and Uranium glass was produced across Europe and later North America. įirst identified in 1789 by a German chemist, uranium was soon being added to decorative glass for its fluorescent effect. The proportion usually varies from trace levels to about 2% uranium by weight, although some 20th-century pieces were made with up to 25% uranium. Uranium glass is glass which has had uranium, usually in oxide diuranate form, added to a glass mix before melting for colouration. Uranium glass used as lead-in seals in a vacuum capacitor

Radium glass ashtray