Purple 'Dahlias' Cameo Glass Night Light by La Verre Français

A La verre Francais 'Dahlias' cameo glass night light in purple,…
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A La verre Francais 'Dahlias' cameo glass night light in purple, overlaid and acid etched with stylised flowers and foliage, in a foliate copper fitting, indistinctly signed to rim, engraved to shoulder, 'France'. Height 16 cm. Provenance: The Estate of the Hon. Dr John Kennedy McLaughlin Am, Sydney

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  • Etched - Glass decorated with an etched design, which is achieved through marking out the pattern, protecting the area that is not be etched, and then immersing the object in acid to dissolve the surface of the unprotected area. With some glass objects, such as cameo glass, there may be several layers of different coloured glass, and part of the top layer is dissolved leaving the bottom layer as the background. The longer the time of exposure of the object to acid, the deeper the etching.

    The word etching is also sometimes used to describe another method of decoration, where wheel grinders were used decorate the surface, but this technique is usually known as engraving.
  • Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.
  • Acid Etched - Acid etching is often used on glass, metals, and stone to create decorative finishes or to prepare the surface for further treatment or coating. The process of acid etching involves applying an acidic solution, such as hydrochloric acid or nitric acid, to the surface of the material and allowing it to react with the surface. The acid etches away a thin layer of the material, creating a rough, uneven finish. Acid etching can be used to create a variety of different finishes, from a subtle matte finish to a more pronounced, textured finish.
  • Engraved Glass - The method of decorating glass by marking the surface with a sharp intrument such as a diamond, metal needle or rotating cutting wheel. As pressure is applied to the surface, best results for engraving are achieved if the glass is of sufficient thickness. In the 19th century etching was used to decorate some table glassware that was too fine to take an engraving tool.

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