Cranberry and Ruby Glass

Silver-Gilt Mounted Engraved Self-Coloured Ruby Glass Beaker,
Nuremberg or Augsberg, 1650-1700 Giclee Print
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The origins of gold ruby and cranberry glass are unknown. It is thought that the Romans discovered it and the famous Lycurgus Cup, in the British Museum, is a 4th century example of the technique. In daylight the cup looks green in colour but when a light is shone through, the cup appears red. Chemical analysis shows the cup has a small amount of gold and silver in its composition. The British Museum experts believe that this could have been an accidental affect because the Romans habitually added scrap metal to molten glass to colour it so perhaps they did not set out to make ruby glass. They might not have even known exactly what they had added to produce this effect.

Whether or not the Romans purposefully used the technique, the knowledge was lost and it was only in the 17th century that a reliable method for producing ruby and cranberry glass was rediscovered. Experts are divided on which glassmaker deserves the credit, although most agree it was either Italian Antonio Neri or Johann Kunckel of Bohemia.

To make ruby glass, gold is dissolved in a solution called Aqua Regia, made up of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, so producing gold chloride. Cranberry glass is made by adding less gold chloride to molten glass than for ruby. It is an expensive and difficult process. A slight error can result in a muddy colour instead of the pretty pink of cranberry or the intense red of ruby glass. Modern glassmakers can buy gold ruby glass rods from manufacturers ready to use for their own designs.

Both cranberry and ruby glass can be fused on to clear glass, a technique called casing, then the outer layer of coloured glass is cut away in places to reveal the glass beneath usually giving a highly ornate decoration. An alternative method, called flashing, is to simply dip a clear glass body into molten cranberry or ruby glass. This usually gives a thinner outer layer of coloured glass than casing. As well as giving the opportunity for decorative effects, it also reduces the cost by using less of the very expensive ruby or cranberry glass to make an object.

Pair of Victorian Cranberry Glass Lustres

Although it was discovered again in the 17th century, it is with the Victorian era that both gold ruby and cranberry glass are most associated when it became very popular in Britain, probably helped by the removal of a large tax on glass. In the first half of the 19th century it was mostly imported from Bohemia where the best ruby glass was produced and craftsmen were expert at engraving and other ornamental techniques.

Victorian Cruet Set
Copyright Sherry's Rose Cottage - Creative Commons License

During this period, some Bohemian ruby glass was produced with detailed landscapes, especially woodland featuring stags, engraved around goblets and bowls. Other items had silver or gold mounts and some were gilded or enamelled while the most expensive pieces could have both gilt and enamel decoration.

By the 1850s, though, English factories were making this type of glass, particularly around Stourbridge. The Victoria & Albert Museum have a particularly beautiful flagon made by John Hardman & Co of Birmingham dating from the late 1850s. It is Gothic style ruby glass with silver-gilt mounts and decorated with stones and enamels and obviously heavily influenced by Pugin, the architect who designed the Houses of Parliament.

The manufacture of ruby and cranberry glass was not confined to the West Midlands. Glassmakers in Bristol first made a piece of ruby glass for the Great Exhibition of 1851. The modern Bristol Blue Glass company still makes both ruby and cranberry glass today using 24 carat gold. It was also made in France, Belgium, Germany and the USA.

In the 19th century ruby and cranberry glass was used for all kinds of objects including jugs, vases, lamps and lampshades, decanters and drinking glasses, épergnes (table centrepieces), dressing table and washstand sets.

Victorian Cranberry and Enamelled Vase

Although brand new ruby and cranberry glass is made both in the UK and USA, most collectors prefer Victorian or early 20th century examples. Many 19th century pieces are highly ornate with gilding and enamelling but some cranberry and ruby glass of the period relied simply on elegant shapes and the beauty of the colour with no extra decorative effects.

Dating is difficult. Specialist dealer Stephen Farnsworth of Grimes House says there are no real identifying features to help ascertain the date a piece was made especially as ruby and cranberry glass was manufactured in so many different styles, many of which were produced well into the 20th century. He points to a company called Haden, Mullet & Haden who were advertising Victorian styles in 1925. This, however, does not affect the value and 1920s pieces are worth collecting.

Prices start at around £20 for a plain Victorian tumbler while a gilt decorated bowl could be £150 or more, depending on size and the intricacy of decoration. Large ornate pieces could cost several thousand pounds. New collectors are advised always to buy from reputable, specialist dealers because reproduction cranberry and ruby glass is widely available. Pieces should always be perfect with no chips or cracks.

The picture above was taken in the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village.

The ruby-glass and silver serving dish was once displayed in the window of Grimm's Jewelry Store in Greenfield Village. The original owner of the store, Engelbert Grimm, was a German immigrant and acquaintance of Henry Ford.

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