International studio (23.1904)

Notes on the Crafts



LEATHER BINDING BY STIKEMAN & CO., NEW YORK

append the following account of the stages through
which the vases generally go.
First, a cross section plan of the shape of the
vase is sent to the factory, from which the “blank”
vessel is made, upon which the various processes
will be worked to ultimately produce a vase like
the original design of the artist. This blank vase
consists of as many layers of glass as there are
colours in the original design, each layer matching
one colour. As a matter of fact, there are seldom
more than two layers over a flint base. The out-
side layer of glass, namely the colour which is to
appear on the topmost portions of the finished
vase, is then coated over with a substance which
will resist acids, excepting in those places where
the worker desires to bring into the scheme of the
design the colour of the second layer of glass. In
those unprotected places the acid is applied until
the outer layer is eaten away just as far down as
the second layer, which when it is reached is again
protected in such portions as the colour-scheme of
the original design demands, the rest of the second
layer of glass being removed by the same process
as the first, until the last thickness of flint glass,
forming the background, is reached. This in its
turn may be frosted or made iridescent or subjected
to various processes for further ornamentation.
The multi-coloured pattern thus produced out of
the various layers of different coloured glass is then,
perhaps, outlined in gold, or modeled into bas-
relief by the engraver. The vase then has to go
through a kiln to fix the gold trimming, and while

in the kiln it is exposed
to the fumes of certain
metallic acidswhich pro-
duce the iridescent back -
ground. Mr. Carl F.
Prosch, who is manager
and^ prime mover in the
production of this beau-
tiful ware, was a stu-
dent at the Art Student’s
League, New York, and
has acquired technical
knowledge of glass-mak-
ing by practical employ-
ment in the craft since his
youth in Bohemia, and
also in this country. For
brilliant translucence of
colouring and effective
rendering of intricate,
yet tasteful, designs, I
do not know where
I have seen the equal of this beautiful glassware.
Everyone knows the dictum of the psycholog-
ical sage: “Tell me who are your friends, and I

LEATHER BINDING BY STIKEMAN & CO., NEW YORK

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