Topic: Fluogravure.

[Anne Tique]

I had another conversation with this person, who I had the galvanoplastie discussion with...
He seems to be on a mission to prove me wrong every time  I've decided to let him smother in his own glory, but for my own benefit and genuine interest, I'm looking for some answers.

Subject of this conversation was the process of 'fluogravure'...a concept of layering glass with enamel to be acid cut to a required design. The principal's the same as cameo glass, the only difference, to my knowledge, is the enamel.

According to several articles in my books here, and articles on the net, the Freres Muller introduced this with Léon Ledru at VSL when they were commissioned to create several new models for VSL, at the turn of the century.

I have read that this process was called fluogravure by the Müller brothers an/or Ledru, but I have come across some descriptions of items by Müller, with the same technique mentioned.

My books date from the 60/70's and the person I had this delightful discussion with, insisted that it was a modern term for this process, and that it's actually just acid cut cameo glass and that if I wanted to make him believe my fairy-tale story, I should come up with some hard evidence... which I'm not going to do as you can imagine...

Unfortunately, I haven't come across any articles mentioning this technique at Müller, but I wondered if any of you might have. Basically I'm asking if this term was already used at the time by Müller.
I'm just thinking, have all these people, previous directors at VSL, writers about glass and even a professor, got it all wrong?

Thank you for your help and time.

Anne.

[Ivo]

As I understand it the design was first acid etched with fluoric acid, and afterwards enameled and gilded to finish the vase - much in the sense of galvanoplastie. However:

"A technique devised by the Müller family consisting of enameling on a single or two layered vessel with rich colours, then acid etching the vitrified enamelled surface into various scenes"  (Victor Arwas, The art of Glass, Papadakis 1996)

and
 "One technique they developed was called "fluogravure". Here the vessel, usually a single layer, but occasionally overlaid, was enameled with patches of intense color, certain portions of the vase being painted with enamels with specific aspects of the desired pattern. Once vitrified, the enamel could then be etched along with the body of the vase. (Victor Arwas Glass Art Nouveau to Art Deco Academy Editions London 1977). as quoted by Bonhams.

So you may be right that the technicalities of this process were too hard to understand for the nontech and semitech writers.

If the term was used as such by Müller, I don't know but I find it probable. The date of first production is usually given as circa 1900.

[Anne Tique]

Thank you Ivo.