Two Russian Empire era pinkish shot glasses

Two simple Russian Empire era shot glasses... or... wait... why are these glasses pinkish? Maybe these are not so simple after all?

Condition: mint

Height: 10 cm

What did AI guess about the colour?

• These specific glasses from Stardust-finds are likely authentic utilitarian pieces from the late Russian Empire era. Their subtle pink tint is almost certainly the result of a natural chemical ageing process known as "solarisation" (or "sun-coloured" glass).
• The Secret Behind the Pink Tint
  • The original formula: They were not originally made to be coloured glass. They were manufactured as standard, clear everyday shot glasses.
  • The chemical culprit: During the 19th and early 20th centuries, glassmakers added manganese dioxide to their molten glass mixtures. This acted as a "decoloriser" to neutralise the natural greenish tint caused by iron impurities in the sand.
  • The UV light reaction: When glass containing manganese is exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) radiation over many decades, the manganese ions change their oxidation state. This chemical shift permanently turns the glass a faint lavender, violet, or light pink colour.
  • The Perfect Time Window: The use of manganese as a primary decoloriser peaked between the 1880s and 1915. This matches the final decades of the Russian Empire perfectly.
  • The WWI Shift: Around 1915, during World War I, global supplies of manganese became scarce because it was needed for steel production. Glass factories switched to selenium, which turns a different colour (amber/yellow) under the sun.
  • Proof of Age: The fact that these basic, heavy-bottomed glasses have naturally developed a pink hue is an excellent indicator that they are genuine, century-old antiques rather than modern reproductions.
    Why This Helps Attribute and Authenticate Them

I let you decide what to believe... but this colour is adorable!