Hi everyone, your good advice is needed.

[Paper Roses]

First let me say that it is sad that this group is so quiet lately. I know why but sure miss your posts.

Yesterday I want to an estate sale, bought a few things including a badly corroded master salt cellar w/cobalt liner. I got it at a cheap price because the corrosion was so bad. Have soaked the piece in a covered jar of ammonia. The corrosion has disappeared---good. It will polish up nicely if:

The bad part, I can't seem to separate the cobalt glass liner from the silver surround.
What do you think, can I boil the thing to loosen the liner from the silver surround? Don't know what to do. Would love to clean this up and give it as a gift to my daughter. Googled the heck out if the situation and cannot seem to find any idea that will help me loosen the silver from the glass. Any ideas?

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I don't think you can remove it. Most silver and cobalt

glass items I've seen, have the silver overlaid directly on the glass during manufacturing. I could be wrong, but the small cell I have is just overlay.


http://www.cambridgeglass.org/articles/0508/07crystalball409a.php

[Paper Roses]

2. Good Morning, thanks for your reply.

The salt cellar is not overlay. I have a similar one. (footed w/cut out design)

I have given some overlay perfume bottles to my kids over the years and have a few pieces of my own. Lucking the silver was fused enough to the glass so the polish did not get under the silver. The old timer from this estate sale left salt in the unit plus must have allowed the salt to get under the cut out work.

I just can't keep out of trouble. I'm always resurrecting someones neglect. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

I will try one idea after another, someone suggested liquid wrench. Think I'll try that next. It is a total loss if I can't get the darn liner out.

[safeinOhio]

3. It wouldn't cost anything

To ask a jeweler about it. Try to find an older one with an accent. 🤓

[Paper Roses]

4. Guess what folks, I did it!

Don't know which of the many things I did worked but after the last soaking in oil, I rinsed the cellar off, put in a 2 qt Pyrex measuring cup and nuked it for about 3 minutes (my microwave is only 700 watts). I then let the foolish thing sit for a while in the hot water. I had just about given up but....took it out of the cup, rinsed it again, one more minute dip in the ammonia. Bravo!, the liner popped right out.
Tomorrow will get out the polish. Right now, I'm sick of looking at it!

I guess this is a case of 'never give up'.

[Vinca]

5. Sometimes you just have to monkey around with things.

I was going to suggest putting ice inside the cobalt glass and running warm water over the outside to expand it.