Why Collectors Are Glowing Over Uranium Glass (Literally)
Meta Description: Uranium glass is glowing in popularity—literally and figuratively. Learn why collectors love it and how Triumphant Estate Sales Los Angeles helps uncover it.
Some estate sale moments just stick with you. One of ours? Watching a seasoned collector casually pull a small blacklight from his bag and wave it over a set of green glass bowls. Like a magic trick, they lit up—vivid and glowing, like something out of a superhero movie.
“Uranium glass,” he said, smiling. “You’d be surprised how often people walk right past it.”
He was right.
At Triumphant Estate Sales, we’ve hosted hundreds of estate sales across Los Angeles, and you’d be amazed how often we encounter these glowing gems tucked away in a china cabinet, or hidden among old barware. Uranium glass is one of those things that many people inherit but don’t realize has value—or beauty.
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💡 What Is Uranium Glass?
Uranium glass is exactly what it sounds like: decorative glassware made with trace amounts of uranium oxide, usually between 0.1% to 2%. While that might raise an eyebrow (yes, it’s slightly radioactive), it’s widely considered safe for display—and that’s how collectors treat it: a showpiece, not something you eat cereal out of.
When placed under a UV or blacklight, uranium glass glows a vivid green. It was especially popular during the Depression era and into the mid-20th century. Bowls, vases, goblets, candy dishes, perfume bottles—you name it, it was made. The colors range from a pale yellow-green to deep olive, but the glow is unmistakable.
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🧲 Why Are Collectors Obsessed With It?
There’s something magical about how uranium glass glows—like you’ve discovered a hidden secret. It feels nostalgic, a little spooky, and completely unique. No two pieces are the same, and each has its own glow under blacklight.
More importantly, uranium glass is still relatively accessible. That makes it a perfect entry point for new collectors, or an exciting treasure hunt for seasoned ones.
Some pieces can sell for $30 or $40. Others, especially signed or rare pieces, go for several hundred.
It’s also incredibly photogenic, which is why we’re seeing it surge in popularity with vintage resellers and social media creators.
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🕵️ “People Also Ask” (But We Get These a Lot!)
**Q: Is uranium glass actually radioactive?**
Yes, but in trace amounts. It won’t harm you if it’s just sitting in a cabinet. We don’t recommend eating from it or heating it—but for display? You’re fine.
**Q: How can I tell if it’s uranium glass?**
A blacklight is your best friend. If it glows neon green under UV light, you’ve got a winner.
**Q: Where do you find uranium glass?**
Estate sales are gold mines—especially in older homes where the glassware hasn’t been touched in decades. We also see it in vintage shops and flea markets, but those deals go fast.
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💬 From Curiosity to Collection
We’ve seen it countless times. A family downsizing finds an old punch bowl set in a cabinet. It’s been there forever. No one knows what it is. Then we shine a blacklight, and boom—it glows.
Suddenly, it’s not just “old glass” anymore. It’s a story. It’s history. And it might even be valuable.
At Triumphant Estate Sales Los Angeles, we know how to spot these glowing treasures. If you’re sorting through a home and unsure of what’s valuable, don’t assume. Ask.
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📦 FAQ – Quick but Helpful
**Can you help sell uranium glass if I find it?**
Yes. We appraise, stage, and sell it—often to collectors actively seeking these pieces.
**Is there a market for full collections?**
Absolutely. Serious collectors often look for complete Depression-era sets, especially rare colors or signed pieces.
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🟢 Final Thoughts
Whether you’re cleaning out your grandmother’s cabinets or looking to start a collection of your own, uranium glass is one of those glowing green secrets that makes estate sales feel like treasure hunts.
Let us help you uncover it—before someone else grabs the blacklight first.
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📍 Los Angeles, CA
🌐 https://TriumphantEstateSales.com
📞 818-635-1530
✨ Call us today for a free consultation—and let your treasures shine.