Amberina glass ranges in shades of light to dark red and sometimes fuchsia at the top to shades of light to darker amber at the bottom, or visa-versa in which case it is called reverse Amberina. It is created by mixing a compound including gold in the glass and reheating the object before it completely cools. The major producer of Amberina in the U.S. was the New England Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, who patented the process in 1883 and thus prevented competitors from making the glass without a license. It's successor, the Libbey Glass Company made the glass in the 1890's.

This beautiful hand-blown Amberina bowl has a round, squatty bowl base that extended upward and outward with a flared gently scalloped rim. The bowl measures 4 1/4" across the base, 2 1/2" in height and 5 1/4" across the top. The rich red color extends almost to the base which is an medium amber shade. There are no cracks, chips or repairs. I have seen this piece called a finger bowl and even a ladies cuspidor, but whatever the original usage it is a gorgeous piece of early Amberina with a wonderful bell-tone when gently tapped.