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Advantage is taken of the reducing action of the coal-gas flame when producing lustre and iridescent glassware. A small proportion of easily reducible metal, such as silver or bismuth, is introduced into the glass and first melted under oxidising conditions. It is then reduced in after-working by flaming, which deposits the metal in a thin sheen upon the surface of the glass, where it comes in contact with the reducing flames. An example of this effect is shown in Tiffany lustre ware, in which silver chloride is used and reduced within the glass, giving a pretty coloured iridescence on the surface, due to the reflection of light from the particles of metal deposited under the surface.

“Aventurine” is a form of glass in which copper and iron oxides are introduced under reducing conditions during melting. The glass is then allowed to cool slowly. The metallic copper tends to separate out in small spangled crystals, which give a pretty sparkling effect. The use of strong reducing agents with very slow annealing is necessary to produce this effect. Copper and gold ruby-coloured glass presents other instances of partial precipitation of the metal by reduction within the glass. According to the extent of reduction, the glass ranges in colour from yellow, ruby, to brown.