DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1310#0110
OF THE WORLD'S INDUSTRY. 83
eut on. the under face of the glass, and then being silvered, were thrown up in a very
pleasing manner, producing an optical deception of an interesting character. In many
of the engraved specimens we had the very beautiful effect of cutting through several
surfaces of coloured glass, down to the translucent body. The opaque glass coating,
which may be produced either by mixing oxide of tin or arsenic with the glass, is first
laid over the crystal; then on this is applied the ruby glass, and where the ruby has
been produced by gold the result is most satisfactory. These being cut through, present
the three surfaces in any way which may be decided on by the artist. Rice Harris and
Son's pressed glass was of the greatest interest. By pressing into moulds, this elegant
material is produced to the public in useful and symmetrical forms, at prices consider-
ably below those at which cut flint glass could possibly be offered. Many of the speci-
mens of pressed glass exhibited, had a degree of sharpness in all the ornamental parts,
which rendered it difficult, without a close examination, to say whether or not they had
been subjected to the operation of the glass-cutter's wheel. Among other new applica-
tions of this process of pressing glass into form, Messrs. Powell and Sons, of the White-
friars Glass-works, exhibited their patent pressed glass for windows. There is much
novelty and ingenuity in this. The pattern is pressed in the glass, and then, by a subse-
quent process, glass of another colour is flowed into it j the whole is then ground down
to a uniform surface, and the result is an inlaid pattern of glass of one colour, in glass
of another. The windows formed in this manner were very effective; and it appeared to
us that they realized the results which in stained glass are only obtained by the long-
continued action of the atmosphere and light. None of our modern church windows
realised that " dim religious light" which is peculiar to those older fanes standing as
memorials of the piety of our forefathers. The light permeating the modern windows
suffers ordinary chromatic analysis, and falls upon the floor in well-defined colour, and
the outline of the design can be easily traced. In those of olden time the colours fall
blended ; there is a general diffusion of tones, no one colour coming out more decidedly
than another. Upon examining old glass windows it will be found that the utmost
pains had been taken to secure this effect; the glass is often purposely roughened;
frequently pieces of different colours are blended; but still the action of time and the
abrasion of the exposed surface is the important agent to which the harmonious effect
is due. Messrs. Hardman and Co. have had glass manufactured purposely to endeavour
to imitate the required condition of the mediaeval styles, and in many of their windows
they have been eminently successful. The antiquity of pressed glass is very remarkable.
The Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, all adopted the process of
pressing or squeezing the glass, when it was in a pasty state, into moulds. Some fine
examples of this will be found amongst the glass series in the Museum of Practical
Geology. The examples of plate-glass were exceedingly good. The Thames Plate Glass-
works exhibited at the western end of the building the largest plate glass hitherto
manufactured. The examples of British plate which were found in the Spitalfields trophy
were beautiful specimens of this class of manufacture. On the whole, the glass manu-
facture of the Exhibition—commencing with the sands, alkalies, and models, and termi-
nating with the great Glass Palace itself, and its fancy fountain—was exceedingly com-
plete, and of the highest interest.
eut on. the under face of the glass, and then being silvered, were thrown up in a very
pleasing manner, producing an optical deception of an interesting character. In many
of the engraved specimens we had the very beautiful effect of cutting through several
surfaces of coloured glass, down to the translucent body. The opaque glass coating,
which may be produced either by mixing oxide of tin or arsenic with the glass, is first
laid over the crystal; then on this is applied the ruby glass, and where the ruby has
been produced by gold the result is most satisfactory. These being cut through, present
the three surfaces in any way which may be decided on by the artist. Rice Harris and
Son's pressed glass was of the greatest interest. By pressing into moulds, this elegant
material is produced to the public in useful and symmetrical forms, at prices consider-
ably below those at which cut flint glass could possibly be offered. Many of the speci-
mens of pressed glass exhibited, had a degree of sharpness in all the ornamental parts,
which rendered it difficult, without a close examination, to say whether or not they had
been subjected to the operation of the glass-cutter's wheel. Among other new applica-
tions of this process of pressing glass into form, Messrs. Powell and Sons, of the White-
friars Glass-works, exhibited their patent pressed glass for windows. There is much
novelty and ingenuity in this. The pattern is pressed in the glass, and then, by a subse-
quent process, glass of another colour is flowed into it j the whole is then ground down
to a uniform surface, and the result is an inlaid pattern of glass of one colour, in glass
of another. The windows formed in this manner were very effective; and it appeared to
us that they realized the results which in stained glass are only obtained by the long-
continued action of the atmosphere and light. None of our modern church windows
realised that " dim religious light" which is peculiar to those older fanes standing as
memorials of the piety of our forefathers. The light permeating the modern windows
suffers ordinary chromatic analysis, and falls upon the floor in well-defined colour, and
the outline of the design can be easily traced. In those of olden time the colours fall
blended ; there is a general diffusion of tones, no one colour coming out more decidedly
than another. Upon examining old glass windows it will be found that the utmost
pains had been taken to secure this effect; the glass is often purposely roughened;
frequently pieces of different colours are blended; but still the action of time and the
abrasion of the exposed surface is the important agent to which the harmonious effect
is due. Messrs. Hardman and Co. have had glass manufactured purposely to endeavour
to imitate the required condition of the mediaeval styles, and in many of their windows
they have been eminently successful. The antiquity of pressed glass is very remarkable.
The Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, all adopted the process of
pressing or squeezing the glass, when it was in a pasty state, into moulds. Some fine
examples of this will be found amongst the glass series in the Museum of Practical
Geology. The examples of plate-glass were exceedingly good. The Thames Plate Glass-
works exhibited at the western end of the building the largest plate glass hitherto
manufactured. The examples of British plate which were found in the Spitalfields trophy
were beautiful specimens of this class of manufacture. On the whole, the glass manu-
facture of the Exhibition—commencing with the sands, alkalies, and models, and termi-
nating with the great Glass Palace itself, and its fancy fountain—was exceedingly com-
plete, and of the highest interest.