Titanic Sister Ship White Star Liner Olympic Reverse Glass Print Circa 1910-13

Description: Estate FindTitanic Sister ShipWhite Star Liner OlympicReverse Glass Print We offer a souvenir reverse glass print of the White Star Liner “Olympic” presented on a fabric covered two board mount creating a six point “White Star”. The print is titled: White Star Liner “Olympic”The Largest Steamer In The World The reverse glass print is outlined with a thin band of gilt. On the print there is a pearlized horizontal band behind the three upper decks which may be actual mother of pearl. The Olympic was the first of three sister ships built by the White Star Company: Olympic, Titanic and Britannia. Launched in 1910, Olympic was the world’s largest steamer until the launch of Titanic and only supplanted in 1913 by the German SS Imperator. Olympic also held the title of the largest British-built liner until RMS Queen Mary was launched in 1934, interrupted only by the short careers of Titanic and Britannic. We estimate that the reverse glass print dates from 1910-1912. The glass panel measures 8” in width and 6” in height. The mounting board measures 11” by 11”. The glass is attached across the upper edge but loose along the lower edge. Unable to determine if the glass was previously glued at the lower edge. REVERSE GLASS PRINTS Reverse-Glass Prints (or glass prints, mezzotints under glass) are distinct from glass paintings, or transparencies, as they do not involve painting onto the actual glass, but onto the reverse of a print adhered to the glass. They are thought to have originated as a novel evolution to add color to the mezzotint, and the earliest productions of reverse glass prints began very shortly after the invention and popularization of the mezzotint in the middle of the 17th century. Reverse-glass prints, similar to some forms of glass paintings, were usually framed in order to resemble an oil painting, and the earlier productions, particularly in the late 17th and early 18th century, were often high quality color imitations of a famous painting of the day engraved, adhered and painted-in by a skilled mezzotint artist. By the mid 18th century glass print making classes for amateurs began to be publicized in newspapers and print-sellers were advertising the sale of materials for amateurs to create glass prints of their own. Towards the end of the 18th century and in the early 19th century print sellers were themselves acquiring mezzotints on paper from artists specifically to produce reverse-glass prints with themes popular to the general public. The production of reverse glass prints was described by Robert Dossie in "Handmaid to the Arts" (London: 1753): Of the taking of mezzotinto prints on glass, and painting upon them with oil, or varnish colours. The painting on glass, by means of mezzotinto prints, is performed by cementing the printed side of the prints to the surface of the glass, by the assistance of some glutinous body which will not dissolve in water; and then destroying the texture of the paper by water, so that it may be rubbed interely [sic] off from the cement upon the glass; leaving, at the same time, the whole of the ink of the print upon the cement, and glass, in the same manner as if the original impression had been made there; by which method, a complete drawing of the picture designed is obtained on the glass; and may be coloured by the use of oil, varnish, or water colours. The method of preparing this is as follows. Procure a piece of the best crown glass as near as possible in size to the print to be taken off; and varnish it thinly over with turpentine, rendered a little more fluid by the addition of oil of turpentine. Lay the print then on the glass beginning at one end; and pressing it gently down in every part in proceeding to the other: to prevent any vesicles of air being formed, in he laying it on, by the paper touching the cement unequally, in different parts; and to settle the whole more closely to the glass, it is well to pass over a wooden roller over it; which roller may be made of any kind of wood turned, and may be about two inches in diameter. Dry the glass, with the print thus laid upon it, at the fire, till the turpentine be perfectly hard; and afterwards moisten the paper well with water, till it be thoroughly soaked. Then rub off the paper intirely [sic] from the cement, by gently rolling it under the finger; and let it dry without any heat: the impression of the print will be found perfect on the glass; and may be painted over with either oil or varnish colours. The choice and treatment of the colours for painting in this way upon glass, in either oil or varnish, my be the same as for any other method, and it is therefore needless to enumerate any further particulars….

Price: 600 USD

Location: Corpus Christi, Texas

End Time: 2024-11-02T21:33:43.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD