Marvels of glass-making in all ages by Sauzay Alexandre 1804-1870

Author:Sauzay, Alexandre, 1804-1870
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Glass manufacture, Glassware
Publisher: London, S. Low, son, and Marston
Published: 1870-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

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ordinary process, by heating in a leaden retort one part of pulverised fluoride of calcium and three and a half parts of concentrated sulphuric acid. The acid is diluted by a third or half of its volume of water, and is kept in bottles of lead, or, what is better, gutta-percha.

" The glass is coated with a varnish of wax and turpentine.

which is applied hot by means of a brush. For designs which should present a certain amount of fineness, drying linseed oil is used.

" The design is traced with a point, in the same manner as etching. The transparency of the varnish of linseed oil permits it to be easily traced. The part covered with

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136

MARVELS OF GLASS-MAKING.

varnish is coated with wax, and the acid is allowed to eat into the glass for a long or short period, according to the depth of the engraving required * The varnish is removed by washing it in water and then in diluted alcohol. It is unnecessary to add that the glass is only touched in those parts which have been laid bare by the engraver."

As it is impossible, whatever amount of care may be taken in this chemical operation, that every part eaten by the acid should have the sharpness and clearness of line given by the point of the tool, it will always be easy to distinguish the work done by the hand of man from that done by the acid.

Thanks to M. P&igot, the question concerning these imitations of Bohemian glass being settled, let us mention, still under the guidance of this writer, those other glasses which, as they are decorated with light designs in imitation of muslin or lace, cannot on account of their extreme regularity be made by the hand.

* Douze le9ons sur l'Art de la Verrerie, page 19.

CHAPTER IX.

LACE GLASS.

44 TV /f GUGNON, of Metz, applies to the glass, covered IVA. w ;th a very light coating of essence of turpentine, an open-work design in metal or on paper, representing lace, &c. He then sifts a fine powder of asphalte and mastic over its surface. The pattern is then carefully taken off, and the glass is slightly heated, so as to melt the powder spread in the interstices of the design, which are thus preserved from the action of the acid, which is now allowed to eat into the glass during thirty or forty minutes, and only takes effect on that part of the glass to which the pattern of the design had adhered.

" This process is very rapid, and by these means two workmen can engrave in a day about twenty superficial yards of glass."

This vase, found about the sixteenth century in a marble sarcophagus in the environs of Rome, after having been for more than two centuries the principal ornament in the gallery of the Princes Barberini at Rome, was bought at a sale by auction by the Duchess of Portland, for the sum of eighteen hundred and seventy-two pounds.

Although the legitimate and sole proprietress

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