Purple Glass Bottle (1000ml) (2024)

FAQs

Is sun purple glass valuable? ›

Is "sun-purpled" glass a good investment? On the contrary, it is tantamount to purchasing a piece of damaged glass and the value is decreased as though it had a serious crack or chip.

Glass that contains manganese will turn lavender when exposed to UV light over time. When I say time, I mean years of exposure to sunlight. Because it takes so long, some people expose the glass to UVC lamps in a box at high intensity for 3–4 weeks to get them to change from clear to lavender.

True purple glass is much rarer. In our English Sea Glass collection, it averages one in 5000 pieces as true lavender glass was reserved for the Monarchy (showing Royalty) and for the Bishops in the church. Light Blue or Cornflower Blue (Pre 1900 Phillips MOM bottles, Bromo Seltzer, Vick's Vapor Rub, etc.)

From 1885 to 1914, manganese dioxide was used as a clearing agent by glass makers to make sure the glass remained clear. However, when exposed to the sun over time, the manganese dioxide in the glass will cause the glass to turn a purple tint. The main source of this clearing agent was Germany.

Less common colors such as teal, cobalt blue, amethyst, straw yellow, or sapphire blue tend to be more valuable than their clear or plain color counterparts. The markings on the bottle directly affect its value. Some markings show how the bottle was made, and how old it is.

In general red/pink, made with gold oxide, is the most sought-after, followed by cobalt/blue, made by using cobalt salt. Jade/green is also valuable which is made with uranium. And lastly, amber/yellow, which is caused by using sulfur.

The color purple (or amethyst), when created by the inclusion of manganese in the formula of container glass, has long been a source of fascination for the archaeologist and the bottle collector.

If they set glass out and it turned purple, it proved to them and to their customers that the glass was, indeed, made prior to ca. 1915 when most, but not all, glass companies ceased using manganese and substituted selenium as the clearing agent.

Solarization of Glass

An interesting characteristic of colorless glasses which contain manganese dioxide as a decolorizer is their tendency to turn different shades of purple when exposed to the rays of the sun or to other ultra-violet sources. It is a photochemical phenomenon that is not yet perfectly understood.

Looking at the way the bottle was made is the key. Look to see if there is a ponytail mark on the bottom. This is a scar that is left when broken free from the glassblower's tool. Such a ponytail or "punty rod" marks on old utility bottles indicate a production date before 1860.

How can you tell if glass is vintage color? ›

Different ways to determine whether glass is antique are to study the patina, the colour, its markings and its patterns, while also looking for bubbles and a pontil mark. Also check to see if the item is definitely glass, not crystal.

Solarization of Glass

An interesting characteristic of colorless glasses which contain manganese dioxide as a decolorizer is their tendency to turn different shades of purple when exposed to the rays of the sun or to other ultra-violet sources. It is a photochemical phenomenon that is not yet perfectly understood.

Some of the most collectible types & styles of antique and vintage glassware include Depression Glass, Carnival Glass, Milk Glass, Moonstone, Hobnail Glass, and Jadeite. One of the most popular styles of antique glass was a Hen on Nest, also known as Animal Dishes because of the variety of animals they come in.