English Mercury Glass Tall Candlesticks, a Pair, Circa 1850

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A gorgeous pair of tall antique Silvered Mercury Glass candlesticks, England, circa 1840-1855.

Silvered Mercury glass is mouth-blown, double walled, … Read more A gorgeous pair of tall antique Silvered Mercury Glass candlesticks, England, circa 1840-1855.

Silvered Mercury glass is mouth-blown, double walled, then silvered between the layers with a liquid silvering solution. The silvering is a heated solution of silver nitrate and grape sugar. The rough bottom scar, left when the glass was knocked from the pontil rod can be seen and was often covered with copper discs or corked.

Silvered Mercury glass, an early example of art glass, was known as “poor man’s silver” in England in the mid 19th Century.

The pair has a nice green tint to the glass, showing through the silver. The green tint in antique glass is primarily due to trace amounts of iron compounds, specifically iron oxide, present in the glass-making materials.

Showing the unfinished Pontil scar on the bottoms. Originally, this pair would have been corked at the bottom opening.

The intensity of the silvering varies as is the hand-made nature of Mercury glass.
Measuring: 10.5 in. H. x 4.25 in. Base.
Holds a 1.25 inch base taper.

In very good antique condition with the expected loss to the silvering.
The intensity of the silvering varies as is the hand-made nature of Mercury glass. See less