Mercury glass has been popping up all over — I've spotted it in both chic shelter magazine spreads and on decorating-savvy friends' mantels. And of course, I wrote about the gorgeous mercury glass used in the Haley Lamp. Mercury glass's silvery sheen adds instant refinement to a home, as well as a touch of glamour. Mercury glass, which was first made in the Czech Republic in the middle of the 19th century, was used as an economical substitute for silver. It's made by filling double-walled glass with a liquid-silver solution, and is often seen in home décor objects such as candlesticks, decanters, and vases.

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