Image: Engraved Bottle in Gold Ruby Glass with Metal Cap, Germany, about 1700. 2011.3.178
From Dr. Robert Brill, Research Scientist Emeritus:
Purple of Cassius is a suspension of metallic gold particles that can be added to a batch as one means of introducing gold into a glass.
Purple of Cassius is an additive used to color glass red. It is not a catalyst.
Strictly speaking, the metallic gold is suspended in what is called a solution, but the metallic particles of gold are not a part of the solution. They are just floating around in it. The particles are so small that they do not settle out under the force of gravity, they remain suspended and drifting around in the liquid.
The whole thing (the solution of other stuff with metallic gold particles suspended in it) is an additive.
For Additional Information
- See information on the Glass of the Alchemists Exhibition| Corning Museum of Glass (cmog.org)
- Read this book later, Kerssenbrock-Krosigk, Dedo von., and Colin. Brain. Glass of the Alchemists : Lead Crystal-Gold Ruby, 1650-1750 /. Corning, N.Y: Corning Museum of Glass, 2008.
- Read this article now, All About Glass - Gold Ruby Glass| Corning Museum of Glass (cmog.org)
