Antique Mercury Glass Vases, Set of 5, Gold Hand-Painted, Victorian, c.1860-1880

An assembled group of five antique gold mercury glass vases, each a different form and size, several with hand-painted floral sprays. Mercury glass (also called silvered glass) is double-walled blown glass with an internal silver-nitrate flashing that gives the warm reflective shine; the gold tone and hand-painting are characteristic of the mid-to-late Victorian period. The vases are unmarked, so the c. 1860–1880 date and the English-or-American origin are based on style rather than documentation. Sold as a collected set of five. Mercury glass; tallest about 9 in.