DOI Heft:
Nr. 146 (May 1905)
DOI Artikel:McMurry, Henry L.: Enamelling in relief: Mr. Henry Holiday's interesting invention
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20711#0322
Enamelling in Relief
PORTRAIT OF HIS SON BY J. M. CARBONERO
substance. The glass dust consists chiefly of
oxides; and Mr. Holiday's niece, Miss Mary
Holiday, who has been an invaluable assistant,
made a special study of chemistry in order to do
this work. The whole of the glass dust is made by
Mr. Holiday, his niece, and Miss Lilian Wayne, a
talented pupil, and consequently the whole develop-
ment is under the personal supervision of the
inventor of the process himself.
The next process is the introducing of the metal
into the kiln, which is heated at white heat. The
glass dust melts upon the metal, adhering firmly to
it. The metal under such a great heat would, of
course, collapse and lose all its form if not properly
backed up ; and for this purpose, before the glass
is strewn on to it, the piece in question is laid in
the hollow mould, and backed with ordinary plaster.
When the glass melts upon the metal the tendency
is to run into the hollows; and as the glass is trans-
parent, the result is to give greater depth and a
delicate, automatic shading to the colours, which
greatly enhances their beauty and the artist's ex-
pression of form. Thus is formed a layer of the
most beautiful enamel, glazing the entire paint-
ing, and producing an effect to which no
reproduction can do justice. The "glint" of
the metal, dimly apparent through a depth of
gorgeous hues, adds a peculiar lustre to a work
which is characterised by a rich glow of colour.
When all the pieces are thus enamelled a bed
of cement is prepared in a zinc-lined case, and
on this the pieces are laid in their proper position.
When the cement is set the work is complete.
The completion of a piece of work such as that
representing the Christ in the Carpenter's Shop
(which was done for the Aysgarth School in
Yorkshire and is illustrated on page 306) may
occupy four or five months.
One of the finest specimens of this new
enamel work is the reredos, three panels of which
are illustrated on this page and on page 309,
REREDOS PANEL FOR BY HENRY
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, HOLIDAY
EDINBURGH
305
PORTRAIT OF HIS SON BY J. M. CARBONERO
substance. The glass dust consists chiefly of
oxides; and Mr. Holiday's niece, Miss Mary
Holiday, who has been an invaluable assistant,
made a special study of chemistry in order to do
this work. The whole of the glass dust is made by
Mr. Holiday, his niece, and Miss Lilian Wayne, a
talented pupil, and consequently the whole develop-
ment is under the personal supervision of the
inventor of the process himself.
The next process is the introducing of the metal
into the kiln, which is heated at white heat. The
glass dust melts upon the metal, adhering firmly to
it. The metal under such a great heat would, of
course, collapse and lose all its form if not properly
backed up ; and for this purpose, before the glass
is strewn on to it, the piece in question is laid in
the hollow mould, and backed with ordinary plaster.
When the glass melts upon the metal the tendency
is to run into the hollows; and as the glass is trans-
parent, the result is to give greater depth and a
delicate, automatic shading to the colours, which
greatly enhances their beauty and the artist's ex-
pression of form. Thus is formed a layer of the
most beautiful enamel, glazing the entire paint-
ing, and producing an effect to which no
reproduction can do justice. The "glint" of
the metal, dimly apparent through a depth of
gorgeous hues, adds a peculiar lustre to a work
which is characterised by a rich glow of colour.
When all the pieces are thus enamelled a bed
of cement is prepared in a zinc-lined case, and
on this the pieces are laid in their proper position.
When the cement is set the work is complete.
The completion of a piece of work such as that
representing the Christ in the Carpenter's Shop
(which was done for the Aysgarth School in
Yorkshire and is illustrated on page 306) may
occupy four or five months.
One of the finest specimens of this new
enamel work is the reredos, three panels of which
are illustrated on this page and on page 309,
REREDOS PANEL FOR BY HENRY
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, HOLIDAY
EDINBURGH
305