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The skill of engraving pictures and lettering on glass is a richly satisfying
art as well as an accomplished craft. The results can range from highly
intricate and delicate styles of more traditional designs to the striking
simplicity of modern images.
Origins
The profession of glass engraving is one that has been traditionally revered
and esteemed. The oldest surviving piece of glass are Egyptian; the Roman
Portland vase, to be seen in the British museum, is the most spectacular piece
of engraved glass from the ancient world in existence.
As glass was regarded as a luxury, it was natural that it should be carefully
decorated and used at ceremonial occasions, for commemorative items and,
indeed, for anything that required a beautiful ornament. As a result of the value
attached to the work of the glass engraver and the flexibility of design and
style, many different glass objects have been decorated with engraving: glasses,
decanters, jugs, bowls, plates, vases, candleholders, trophies, bottles,
paperweights, flasks, sculptures, figurines and mirrors.
The earliest engraving was done by the copper wheel method, in which a large
wheel was brought to bear on fairly sturdy glass. The Portland vase was engraved
using this technique. However, this method is not suitable for engraving fine
glass (lead crystal) and these days is used mainly by commercial manufacturers
and a few professional hand engravers.
It was not until the Venetians developed cristallo, a thin delicate glass,
that glass engraving was recognized as a craft. From the sixteenth century,
glass engravers were regarded as master craftsmen.
 Basic
Techniques
The engraver needs only a few basic items to get
started: Blanks, which are
any glass object that can be used for engraving, such as vases, goblets or
mirror glass, and the engraving instruments. A hand held diamond or tungsten
carbide tool is used for the delicate work of diamond point engraving; a
flexible drill drive or dental drill and dental burrs are needed for the bolder
work of drill engraving; a burgess engraver, an electric non-rotary vibrating
tool, is capable of producing both diamond point and drill engraving. Some
professionals still engrave deeply incised designs with the traditional copper
wheel.
Before starting to work, the engraver prepares a steady, well lit work
surface. In order to see work clearly, a backdrop, ideally a piece of black
cloth, is placed in or behind the item to be engraved. Most important is the
need for some sort of protection for the eyes, as tiny particles of glass are
thrown up by the engraving tool. When a drill is used water is dribbled over the
object to stop the particles from obscuring the work, and to aid the grip of
drill on glass.
All sorts of effects can be achieved when engraving glass from fine work to
bolder outlines and from large areas of frosted glass to the fine stippling work
characteristic of diamond point engraving. Once you start engraving glass you
will find it utterly absorbing and. eventually, very rewarding.
Glass engraving causes glass splinters - allows ensure surroundings and face
are protected.
Courses
If you offer engraving courses / evening classes / demonstrations -
please contact us to advertise your details here.
To learn proper glass engraving techniques the best starting point is to
contact polytechnics / art schools / workshops /colleges to see if they have any organized
courses.
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