A Rene Lalique Actinia vase, designed 1934, the waisted cylindrical body moulded with a wavy design reminiscent of plant fronds, in frosted and clear glass with a sepia patina, acid etched R. Lalique, 8.66 in. high. Provenance: Renee Antiques, New York, Mr Hans Mueller and Mrs Gertrud Mueller, Sydney, acquired from the above on 1 October 1989. Literature: Felix Marcilhac, R. Lalique, Catalogue Raisonne De L'Oeuvre de Verre, Editions de l'Amateur, Paris, 2004, no. 10-889, p. 462 (illustrated, another example)
- Etched - Glass decorated with an etched design, which is achieved through marking out the pattern, protecting the area that is not be etched, and then immersing the object in acid to dissolve the surface of the unprotected area. With some glass objects, such as cameo glass, there may be several layers of different coloured glass, and part of the top layer is dissolved leaving the bottom layer as the background. The longer the time of exposure of the object to acid, the deeper the etching.
The word etching is also sometimes used to describe another method of decoration, where wheel grinders were used decorate the surface, but this technique is usually known as engraving.
- Acid Etched - Acid etching is often used on glass, metals, and stone to create decorative finishes or to prepare the surface for further treatment or coating. The process of acid etching involves applying an acidic solution, such as hydrochloric acid or nitric acid, to the surface of the material and allowing it to react with the surface. The acid etches away a thin layer of the material, creating a rough, uneven finish. Acid etching can be used to create a variety of different finishes, from a subtle matte finish to a more pronounced, textured finish.
- Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.
As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.
Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.
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