Man’s bizarre collection of glowing glassware made of uranium

By Fiona Jackson via SWNS

A man said his family jokingly ask if he's "grown any extra body parts" due to his large collection of glowing glassware - made of uranium.

When Kenny Wenzel, 49, got his first piece of uranium glass he discovered that it gave off an eerie glow - and an obsession began.

Over the next six months he collected 91 uranium glass pieces, spending over $1,000, to create his creepy display cabinet.

Kenny, from Phoenix, Arizona said: "Family and friends often ask if the uranium glass is safe and if I've grown any extra body parts yet.

"Despite their joking, they all seem slightly in awe of the collection when they see the full effect of the lit cabinet in a dark room."

In April, Kenny's mom Yvonne Rusch, 86, showed him a leaf-shaped piece of glass that once belonged to his grandmother, Effie Pratt.

He said: "My mom said she believed the cabbage leaf would glow under the correct lighting, so I researched it online and learned about uranium glass.

"I purchased a black light flashlight and discovered that my mom was right.

"I fell in love with its otherworldly glow and this is what awakened my interest in collecting more uranium glass."

He spent most Saturdays from then on scouring antique shops, second-hand shops and eBay for more uranium glass pieces - armed with his torch to verify their authenticity.

Kenny purchased a display cabinet for $150, inside of which he strung up pieces of black velvet for a backdrop and spread it on the shelves.

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

(Kenny Wenzel via SWNS)

"I remembered my brother Mike's velvet Led Zeppelin poster that he had when we were growing up and how it would glow under the blacklight," he said.

The mortgage auditor also ordered some strip LED backlights which he installed around the edges of each shelf, before spending eight hours arranging the glassware.

"Because I am a Virgo, and thus a perfectionist, the actual arranging of the pieces took the most time," said Kenny.

The whole display cost Kenny about $1,000, but he has now drawn the line on spending any more because there's no more room in his cabinet.

When he posted photos of his creepy glowing plates and bowls on Facebook, he got over 64,000 likes and 52,000 shares.

Thrift shop enthusiast Kenny said: "The finished display was impressive to me, especially knowing that the very first piece was handed down to me and originally belonged to my Grandma.

"I have always had a love of second-hand shopping and I get great satisfaction in searching for a specific item and then finding it, especially when I am least expecting to.

"Items that I find second-hand will sometimes bring back feelings of nostalgia of my childhood when life was much simpler and the wonder that is found in the simple things."