Topic: Production question about modern "cameo" or "cut away" weights.

[BobKegeles]

Hey all,

This is a question concerning modern "cut away / cameo" weights are made. Specifically classic Correia pieces as shown.

This has been my assumption of how they are produced, can peeps confirm or correct me please.

1) Start with creating a large clear glass ball.
2) Then case it in colored (in this case gold) glass, and iridize the surface.
3) Then paint or cover the shapes your want to keep (in this case the hearts), I don't know what the "paint" or "cover"is made of.
4) Then acid etch the piece, this exposes the clear glass between the hearts, and also satin etches the those "clear" glass surfaces.
5) Remove whatever was used to mask the heart shapes.
6) Then polish and sign the bottom; voila, it's done.

So, what do I have right, and what do I have wrong?
And, is this different from how cameo pieces were made in the mid 20th century?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Fuhrman Glass]

I think that particular piece was made from clear glass and then probably iridized with stannous chloride when it was hot. Then it had a resists the shape of hearts applied to it .The resist is normally referred to as "buttercut", it's an adhesive backed rubber material that can come in different thicknesses. It was then sand blasted which gave it the etched finish. The buttercut was then removed and gold leaf was applied to the heart shapes. The gold leaf may have been applied hot and then the same process was applied, leaving the gold hearts. Acid etching in the US is almost no existent except for one company in Ohio. Working with hydrofluoric acid is very dangerous and is not easily obtainable. If you do get it, the EPA is very particular about how you handle it and dispose of it.
That's my opinion of how I would have achieved similar pieces.

[paperweights]

Great description.  Thank you for the details.

[BobKegeles]

Thanks very much Tom.

By the way I bought and sold a cute little view window weight of yours the other day. It was fun to see your work, since I've seen and appreciated your comments here.

[Fuhrman Glass]

I've made a lot of those at one time or another. That one was sand blasted and then a window ground and polished in it. I refer to those as my window paperweights. like looking into another world. as a metaphor, I tell people it is like people, "once you get rid of all the reflections and glitz on the outside you can see what's on the inside."