Ruby Glass from The
Glass Encyclopedia

Gold Ruby glass is a red glass made by including in the glass mixture gold chloride, a colloidal gold solution produced by dissolving gold metal in Aqua Regia (nitric acid and hydrochloric acid). Tin (stannic chloride) is sometimes added in tiny amounts, and the process is both difficult and expensive. Cranberry glass is another type of glass made from gold, but the colour is a delicate pink - there is less gold chloride in cranberry glass than in gold ruby glass.
Today's studio glassmakers can buy their ruby and cranberry glass in rods from specialist manufacturers. This makes it easier for them, but even more expensive. Most cranberry glass items made today have a thin layer of cranberry glass coated with clear crystal.

The Romans made pink and red glass using gold, and the famous Lycurgus Cup contained both gold and silver.


The secret of making red glass was lost for many centuries, and rediscovered during the seventeenth century in Bohemia. At the time this was a blow to the pride and prominence of Venetian glass-makers, who had tried unsuccessfully for years to make red glass. There is a film about the village where the secret of making red glass had been lost, called Heart of Gold, which is worth watching if you can find a copy.


Here are some books which include information on Ruby and Pink Glass. Click on any book cover or title to read more about a particular book.

• Avon's 1876 Cape Cod Collection: Glass Dinnerware (2010) by Debbie and Randy Coe (Revised 2nd Edition) Mixed rviews .


• Warman's Fenton Glass (2007) by Mark Moran (Identification and Price Guide).


• Royal Ruby (July 2007) by Philip Hopper (Schiffer Book for Collectors).


• Fenton Art Glass Patterns 1939-1980( (April 2004) by Margaret and Ken Whitmyer (2nd Edition, Identification & Value Guide).


• More Royal Ruby (March 2001) by Philip Hopper (Schiffer Book for Collectors).


• Ruby Glass of the 20th Century Book 2 (1995) by Naomi L. Over .


• Ruby Glass of the 20th Century 1st Edition (1991) by Naomi L. Over.


• Encyclopedia of Victorian Colored Pattern Glass, Book 9: Cranberry Opalescent (Feb 1987) by William Heacock and William Gamble.

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