Verre Eglomise is named after Jean-Baptist Glomy, a French 18th Century frame maker to Louis XVI, who used
the technique extensively to embellish
framed prints and to decorate mirrors and trumeaux for Marie-Antoinette. Although
some of the finest work was carried out
in the 18th and 19th centuries, it is much older, with early examples of Eglomise glass decorated bowls from a tomb in Italy,
dating from the third century B.C.
Eglomise glass is: gold leaf; silver leaf;
paint, on its own or in combination, applied
to the underside of a sheet of glass. At its simplest a single or double line of gold leaf was laid on the glass, protected
by a layer of black paint this technique is still employed today
in framing for traditional prints. At its most intricate complicated
and elaborate designs can be achieved.
![eglo03.jpg](images/eglo03.jpg)
3rd centuary BC Antique eglomise bowl in
The British Museum
![eglo02.jpg](images/eglo02.jpg) Eglomise panel late 18th Century
![eglo01.jpg](images/eglo01.jpg) Eglomise panel late 18th Century
![eglo05.jpg](images/eglo05.jpg)
Picture frame corner detail |