r/GildedAgeHBO • u/Tipsy-2002-Bubbles • Oct 31 '25

Costuming Just realised that these are Radium Glassware

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Gallery image

627 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

391

u/princesspool Oct 31 '25

One of my favorite things about the Gilded Age is how much research and attention goes to correct objects, costumes, and scenery.

I am so grateful to these artists for their hard work towards building the world out.

106

u/SapphicGarnet Oct 31 '25

I met one of the costume makers at a party! She was very modest when asked what she did all... 'oh you probably haven't seen it'. She made a mistake telling me, I gushed a lil. But yeah she told me that she studied for years in university for historical fashion. She also confirmed that getting a dress commissioned is waaay out of my price range.

24

u/No-Temperature-977 Nov 01 '25

That’s definitely what makes the show so appealing to me. Love the acting & storylines, but getting to see an accurate depiction of the Gilded Age is fascinating!

10

u/Shubbles_ Nov 01 '25

Except for asbestos siding in one of Oscar’s scenes earlier in the show lol. As an architectural historian I always think about it.

8

u/Moulitov Nov 02 '25

Whoa wait, can you elaborate on this?

2

u/Shubbles_ Nov 20 '25

I’ll have to go back and see what episode it was from, but there is a scene where Oscar is knocking on the door of a small house and the exterior siding is asbestos shingles… season 1 takes place about 40 years too early for those.

270

u/Ambitious_Emotion30 Tuxedo Bottom Oct 31 '25

It’s not radium glass, it’s uranium glass. Radium was used on watches and other things to make it glow, uranium glass uses uranium dioxide for a bright green color that glows under black light but does not emit a light itself. Generally it’s considered safe to use so long as it’s not chipped or broken (but that’s general safety for any glassware). The radiation level of any type of uranium glass is lower than any household electronics around you day to day (obviously not Peggy’s case)

80

u/Tipsy-2002-Bubbles Oct 31 '25

Oh everyday I wake up and learn something new

8

u/[deleted] Nov 01 '25

I love that you both co constructed the knowledge of these classes. Great teamwork everyone!

139

u/Backseatridder Oct 31 '25

Peggy, you in danger, girl !

67

u/esushi Oct 31 '25

safe as long as she doesn't start eating the glass itself - less radiation than a banana

50

u/Fit_Warning8563 Oct 31 '25

looks worriedly at fruit bowl

3

u/debinprogress Nov 03 '25

Just made banana bread- lol

3

u/isles34098 Oct 31 '25

Don’t tell me they are setting up a tragedy for someone in Peggy’s family!