Reichenbach Dark Silver Brown RL 5011

Lampwork Glass Color Review

Name a 104 COE glass color that is often overlooked but is secretly one of your favorites. I'll go first.

Reichenbach Dark Silver Brown RL 5011

This color did have its moment in the spotlight when Reichenbach first started producing glass lampworking cane in 104 COE. They are more well known for their furnace glass in 96 COE, but when this glass first came on the scene there were plenty of artists who figured out pretty quickly that its high silver content gives it magic appeal.

What looks like an unassuming transparent brown is actually one of the prettiest navy blues in my stash. Huh? How does a brown glass become navy blue?

Quite simply it is magic. More precisely it is chemistry.

The metal content (silver) in the glass reacts to flame chemistry and changes colors. I would classify it as both a striking and reducing glass color. Maybe not as predictable to work as other popular striking and reducing glass colors available today, but an old staple and relatively affordable option.

lightly reduced

The trick to working this glass is the standard sequence of events for striking and reducing glass.

1. Choose a complementary base color. This is a semi-transparent glass so the base will affect the final outcome both as potentially reactive (colors that react with silver) and color visibility. Black is generally my default of choice.
   
2. Get the glass nice and hot applying it to your bead in whatever pattern you desire.
3. Allow to cool just enough that it doesn't crack.
4. Bring back up to a nice hot glow (striking).
5. Turn down your oxygen and give it a nice little bathe in the reduction flame.
6. Encase in a final layer of clear to protect the reduction and bring out the final color.

heavily reduced

Since Reichenbach glass is hand-pulled, it is produced in smaller batches with each batch being unique. Some batches strike differently than others. Some reduce more quickly. And some are more transparent or opaque.

Depending on your working style and the individual glass batch, results can be a lovely ethereal navy blue to almost white with varying levels of opalescence. Left on its own with no striking or reducing, it is also a lovely shade of amber/topaz if that is your desired result.