Decoration on Glass
Decoration on Glass
Decoration on Glass
Glass is used for a variety of purposes, both domestic and industrial, since it is versatile and flexible. In addition, it can be decorated in various ways; some techniques include cutting, engraving, gilding, and enameling. Below is a more detailed description of possible decorations on glass.
1. Adding glass to glass
This is one of the oldest methods of glass decoration and there are also various types of this method.
- Combed threads: Ancient Egyptians, and later glassmakers in Rome, the Middle East, Venice, Spain, and England, used this method on small core formed vessels. Threads of hot glass are would around the body of the piece and dragged across the surface for a wavy form. Then the piece is marvered.
- Trailed threads: At first, the process is similar to combed threads method described above. But the difference is that after the glass thread is trailed onto the surface, the piece is reheated without marvering. Romans, Venetians, and English used this method.
2. Painting on the surface
- Enameling: The colors in this method are permanently fused onto the object by re-firing it after color is applied.
- Cold-painting: This method is similar to enameling, but there is no re-firing. The colors are oil or lacquer based so that they do not require additional heating to stay on the surface. However, the drawback is that decoration can be damaged easily. Thus, this method is commonly used on very large projects that do not fit into the muffle kiln, or for pieces too fragile for re-firing.
- Gilding: Gold is used as paint, powder, or foil on the surface.
3. Incising the surface.
- Cutting: A Rotating wheel, lathe, or hand tools are used to cut glass.
- Engraving: A sharply pointed tool or a rotating wheel is used to cut or scratch the surface.
- Etching, or acid engraving: Hydrofluoric acid is applied on the surface of the glass to create a frosted surface. The area that will not be treated with acid is covered with acid-resistant substances such as wax or varnish for protection.
- Sandblasting: Object is first covered with a protective mask, and only the areas that will be decorated are left unprotected. Then, the whole piece is subjected to blasts of sand or powdered iron that are projected from a special gun. This creates a frosted look.
Another note to the third method: thicker glass can sustain deeper cuts, so that Ravenscroft's invention of lead glass was critical in the development of more and more extravagant styles of cutting and engraving.
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