Museum Collections

Widespread use of etching in decorating glass objects is primarily a late nineteenth century phenomenon, although the technique was invented in the 1770s. The technique used on this lampshade involved engraving a design on a copper plate, covering the plate with an acid-resistant substance, and transfer printing the design onto the glass with paper. Once the design was printed on the object, it was dipped in hydrofluoric acid to etch the pattern (see publications).