With a history that dates back to mid-19th-century Bohemia — now known as the Czech Republic — mercury glass, and its striking appearance, has been catching the eyes of décor darlings, art aficionados, and antique collectors for well over 150 years. And it’s no wonder why: Mercury glass, in all its forms, adds a unique allure to the most ordinary, everyday objects.
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Mercury glass is currently making a comeback, gracing the shapes of modern pieces as an alternative to the strictly glossy sheen of more traditional mirrored and metallic surfaces. I, for one, am excited to see this classic style adorning more modern silhouettes, and have chosen a few of my favorite items from hayneedle.com, as you’ll see throughout this post. Visit our Mercury Glass Update Styleboard to see more items and find a few favorites of your own.
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Mercury Glass a la Mode
Most of what we’ve come to know as mercury glass today is simply a finish added to a mirrored or metallic surface — a lamp, vase, or mirror, for example — with no mercury or silver involved at all. The origin of the finish (not the glass itself) stems from the technique of mercury silvering, a process used as far back as the Middle Ages. At that time, elemental mercury, sometimes mixed with other precious metals, was used to create mirrored and gilded surfaces. As the surfaces aged, the silvering would begin to degrade, causing the speckled look that’s so coveted today.
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Much later, “mercury glass” was created as artisans discovered they could affordably emulate the look of sterling silver, and other pricey metals of the time — as well as recreate the artful beauty of these antiqued surfaces — by hand-blowing double-layered glass and filling the space between layers with a liquid silvering solution. This silvering solution, which was not always silver, despite its name, aged similarly to the silvering mixtures of the Middle Ages, giving any object treated with it a similar appearance over time.
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Considered by many to be one of the first true forms of art glass, most antique mercury glass was created more for its visual impact than its usability. Fortunately, today, we get to enjoy the best of both worlds — style and function. And while what we’re defining as mercury glass may be a bit removed as far as production is concerned, the beauty of the finish — and its storied history — remains as intriguing as ever.
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Shopping for the Real Deal
Should you be interested, here are some tips for spotting the pricey yet pretty antique pieces:
- Real mercury glass will be double-walled; two distinct layers of glass will be present
- The glass, which is usually hand-blown, will have imperfections, bubbles, or marks
- Blown glass will likely have a pontil scar from the pontil rod used while creating the piece; the pontil scar is where the silvering solution was added
- The pontil scar may have a seal or be filled with something like cork or metal to protect the integrity of the piece and denote its origin (note: older pieces may have lost this seal; check with a specialist to determine origin)
- Be aware of options: Antique mercury glass can also be hand-painted, etched, engraved, or enameled
- When it comes to value, it’s all about the silvering — condition matters!
- Real mercury glass will not wear or antique evenly and most silvering will begin to degrade once the seal is opened or lost
- Always, always remember that there is a difference between “antique” and “antiqued,” no matter how similar they may sound
Happy shopping, and may you enjoy whatever wondrous mercury-glass marvel you find!
—Kelly, senior editor/copywriter