Fostoria American Purple Plates Set

Fostoria American Purple Plates: 5 count, no chips or cracks, 6" tip to tip.

The unique purple hue of these plates originates from manganese, historically used in glass production to achieve clarity. This additive has been present in glass since ancient Egyptian times. Around 1915, glass manufacturers began using selenium instead of manganese. Manganese-containing glass turns amethyst/purple when exposed to UV rays, a process known as irradiation, which accelerates the color change typically occurring over decades. This accelerated process confirms the plates' era of production.