Is it Safe to use?
|
Based on an article we wrote for Martha Stewart magazine.
How safe is Carnival Glass to use with food? Are there any problems with chlorides used to iridise the glass, any possible hazards, and any safety issues involved with showing food on Carnival Glass. When I (Glen) was a little girl, my mother used to serve up a tinned salmon salad every Sunday in a marigold carnival Glass bowl like the one on the right made by Sowerby. My mother had been given the bowl by her own mother, who had in turn, been given it when it was new. Her mother (my grandmother) had also used it to serve food on special occasions. It’s an abiding memory from my childhood years, and I’m delighted to say that I still have the bowl - though we don’t serve salmon in it every Sunday any more! My mother and my grandmother both lived into their nineties, so I guess you can draw from this the inference that none of us have been harmed by using our Carnival Glass bowl to serve food in every week. |
|
It’s more likely that the Carnival Glass itself would be harmed, in use, by people, rather than people being harmed by Carnival Glass.
When using Carnival for serving food, be careful not to cut directly onto the surface of the glass in case you harm it. Similarly, it’s probably best not to put very oily food onto Carnival, so as not to harm its lovely iridescence.
It’s delightful and decorative in use. Many Carnival collectors use punch bowls, drinking vessels and serving dishes to grace their dining tables on special occasions. The colours (ranging from vibrant to pastel), the shimmering iridescence and the astonishing variety of wonderful patterns make Carnival Glass the perfect way to add an element of art and beauty to one’s surroundings.
Avoid Heat and Cold
They are the worst enemies of most glass unless (it was made heat or cold resistant). It’s best not to put Carnival into the refrigerator, or to plunge it directly into hot water or put very hot food onto it. Keep in mind the routine of changing its ambient temperature very slowly. Warm it slowly, cool it down slowly. Any rapid changes of temperature can cause it to crack - collectors call it a "visit from the ping fairy!" - because glass naturally has internal stresses (from when and how it was made) that can be affected by rapid temperature changes.
The iridescence is fragile!
The iridescence on Carnival Glass comes from spraying it, whilst hot, with certain chemicals. I asked (the late) Howard Seufer who used to be in charge of Quality Control at Fenton Art Glass, and he explained “The chlorides are used to apply the iridescence (and to strengthen the glass). The chlorides won't come off the glassware. Tin and iron chloride are the most common.” Howard went on to explain that some early iridescent Art Glass, such as Tiffany and Steuben, would often have had a lead content. Of course, glass containing lead is not considered safe for food-related use. Carnival Glass does not contain lead.
Washing
When washing Carnival, don’t use harsh chemicals or scourers. The iridescent layer is very thin and harsh abrasives can easily wear it away, especially on the raised up surfaces. Treat it gently and be careful not to knock it on taps (fawcets) etc. Best not to put it in a dishwasher unless it is new Carnival that has washing instructions with it.
In a nutshell, Carnival is safe to use with food, as long as you are aware of the points mentioned above. In fact, using Carnival Glass to display food isn’t a new idea for cookery writers. In some of the early editions of Mrs Beeton’s famous cook book, there are photographs of food displayed on Carnival Glass.
When using Carnival for serving food, be careful not to cut directly onto the surface of the glass in case you harm it. Similarly, it’s probably best not to put very oily food onto Carnival, so as not to harm its lovely iridescence.
It’s delightful and decorative in use. Many Carnival collectors use punch bowls, drinking vessels and serving dishes to grace their dining tables on special occasions. The colours (ranging from vibrant to pastel), the shimmering iridescence and the astonishing variety of wonderful patterns make Carnival Glass the perfect way to add an element of art and beauty to one’s surroundings.
Avoid Heat and Cold
They are the worst enemies of most glass unless (it was made heat or cold resistant). It’s best not to put Carnival into the refrigerator, or to plunge it directly into hot water or put very hot food onto it. Keep in mind the routine of changing its ambient temperature very slowly. Warm it slowly, cool it down slowly. Any rapid changes of temperature can cause it to crack - collectors call it a "visit from the ping fairy!" - because glass naturally has internal stresses (from when and how it was made) that can be affected by rapid temperature changes.
The iridescence is fragile!
The iridescence on Carnival Glass comes from spraying it, whilst hot, with certain chemicals. I asked (the late) Howard Seufer who used to be in charge of Quality Control at Fenton Art Glass, and he explained “The chlorides are used to apply the iridescence (and to strengthen the glass). The chlorides won't come off the glassware. Tin and iron chloride are the most common.” Howard went on to explain that some early iridescent Art Glass, such as Tiffany and Steuben, would often have had a lead content. Of course, glass containing lead is not considered safe for food-related use. Carnival Glass does not contain lead.
Washing
When washing Carnival, don’t use harsh chemicals or scourers. The iridescent layer is very thin and harsh abrasives can easily wear it away, especially on the raised up surfaces. Treat it gently and be careful not to knock it on taps (fawcets) etc. Best not to put it in a dishwasher unless it is new Carnival that has washing instructions with it.
In a nutshell, Carnival is safe to use with food, as long as you are aware of the points mentioned above. In fact, using Carnival Glass to display food isn’t a new idea for cookery writers. In some of the early editions of Mrs Beeton’s famous cook book, there are photographs of food displayed on Carnival Glass.