What Makes Black Glass Black?

Well, I'm darned if I know! Is it the density of pigment? Is there any pigment in glass? Beats me!
But this is one of the wonders of the current world that absolutely drives me nuts. How can something be black, but all the while be blue? ... or green? ... or red?

A dear friend from England ~ home of the world's best glass! A fact accepted by all except a few lucky Californians!!! ~ sent me the most wonderful and generous gift of glass yesterday, and in this wonderful package were several pieces of the most fantastic black glass.

Gorgeous shapes, just in that one facet of their being. Shape!  But so much more is hidden away in these thick, frosty, black-as-pitch treasures!

With the help of the Sun, early this morning I set about cracking the mysteries that were hidden within!

Some were easier than others, and one is holding firm to its secrets even as I write.

Wanting to take some 'artistic' shots, I set up as the sun breached the eastern sky and let loose with the Nikon.

Here they are ~ What beauties! Black beauties from the stony shores of Seaham Beach!! Tossed and tumbled for decades, maybe even centuries, rounded and smoothed, caressed and pounded, by the cold, relentless waves of the North Sea.

And every one a perfect shape, no nicks or chips! He only picked the best to send me! What a kind person he is!

Now, to get inside one of these black treasures you have to be a bit of a contortionist! Aim and shoot, just doesn't work!

Aim, jiggle, focus, twist, side-step ... maybe ... because somewhere around that waiting glass will be "The Perfect Spot" where the light will flash through and all is revealed.

Some revealed themselves as SideLights! and that was what I called the photos when I posted them on Seaglasslovers.ning and SeaglassArtistsandCollectors.ning!



A dazzling flash of colour appears down one side ~ all you have to do is capture it!

Surprises in RED!

Yes, as incredible as it would seem, this glass without the aid of sunlight light, is black!    

And this is my Hold Out! I think it's green but it won't tell me!

What a generous gift this is! He tells me to use it, and make jewellery with it, but somehow I can't.

Not yet!

Maybe some day .......