dichroic glass

The amazing colours and reflective qualities of dichroic glass come from very thin (one thousandth of a millimetre) layers of metal oxides.

Multiple thin layers of different metals (gold, silver, titanium, chromium, aluminium, zirconium, magnesium, silicon) are applied to the surface of the glass in a vacuum chamber.

The resulting plate of dichroic glass can then be fused with other glass in a kiln.

The range of colours is due to the differing reflection and refraction of light of varying wavelengths.

Due to variations in the production process, individual pieces of glass can never be exactly reproduced; each piece of fused dichroic glass is unique.

Dichroic glass was initially developed by NASA for use in satellite mirrors.

Parts of the above information are repeated with thanks from Wikipedia - Dichroic Glass