Topic: Galvanoplastie.

[Anne Tique]

I recently had a discussion with someone and I'm puzzled...

The item that lead to the conversation was one of these Romanian art glass vases, with wiry applications or handles that are covered with copper/metal, that I'm sure you've seen somewhere before.

In several books that I have, I read that the galvanoplastie process is described as a precise and complicated process, where by the item passes through several acid- and metal baths, after the original glass form has first been acid cut with a design.

My point was, that if this process was so difficult to do, and if the whole item goes through several processing baths, how can these Romanian vases just have a part of the item galvanized and my main point was, can we still speak of galvanoplastie, even though the dictionary says that galvanizing is to cover an object with metal.

I'm not looking for answers to go back and have the last word on it, I've passed that phase in my life, but I'm just wondering now.... and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

[Ivo]

I'm not sure I understand the Romanian ref, in my understanding galvanoplastie is a galvanic process used on an acid etched base, invented and used by VSL and <uncertainty starts here> by others. Moser and by Walther spring to mind. Like VSL they made glass with friezes of gilded classical dames - but I am not sure this pattern is actually etched or pressed. 

There may be a confusion with galvanodeposit glass, normally in silver. The Murano souvenir pieces with the silver decoration of gondolas and San Marco, the sort that rubs off as soon as you open a pot of brasso is a galvanic deposit but involves no etching.

I think the VSL patent is carefully described and sinfully expensive to make. I have seen pieces with an all over decoration which is weird. An all over cover of metallic opacity kills transparency and maintainis fragility. It is cheaper to use a metal vessel to achieve the same effect with less effort...

The process of superimposing thicker metal (silver) decoration on glass is yet another refining operation, i.e. it takes place in post production.

[Anne Tique]

Hello Ivo, thank you for your reply.

I'm sorry, I should have posted an image of the type of glass  to avoid confusion,  but here's a link to a similar item, I'm sure you have seen these before. Just to be clear, this is not the vase I had the conversation about but a very similar piece and just used now, to illustrate the type of glass and subject of discussion, at that time.

http://www.trocadero.com/randrinc/items/96447/item96447store.html

From what I read, some of the pieces, unsigned and completely covered with metal were the earlier ones, according for instance to Joseph Philippe, writer of the book 'Le Val-Saint-Lambert, Ses Cristalleries et l'Art du Verre en Belgique', and later on designs were made that showed some of the blue glass underneath.

Basically, and I reduce the mentioned description process,  he describes the process as mould blown, blue Cristal that is acid cut with the required design, de-mineralized with several baths and electroplated with silver. Next step was the application of several layers of copper, yellow or red, to finish off with corrections and refining of the design and a good 'buff up', and as you mentioned, apparently not the cheapest of processes.

Not to criticize or ridicule these pieces, but I see vases like the one in the link for sale at €25, how can they be regarded as the same?

[Ivo]

Ouch, these pieces are really monstrous. This is not a critique, just a personal opinion. They are not galvanoplasticised. If glass it was silvered, but a little too garish, like the LGW Pfauenauge process. If metallic it was fitted after production.
how can they be so cheap I am tempted to say supply and demand - but I should say of course, low wages, fast production.

[Anne Tique]

Thank you Ivo for your comments, we're singing from the same song sheet, even though I hadn't thought about the wages etc, but that explains why the prices can be kept low and of course that makes sense.

Just to illustrate this topic, a piece of my own collection, VSL Vase U-Esthétique 1910-1918, and these as well require a specific taste 

[Lustrousstone]

I agree with Ivo, the metal on the Romanian pieces is generally attached and not a surface treatment on the glass

[Anne Tique]

I agree with Ivo, the metal on the Romanian pieces is generally attached and not a surface treatment on the glass

Thank you, my thought initially, but this person was so strong in his opinion I  started to doubt .... besides the process I mentioned above,  I could not prove otherwise .... thank you both for clearing that up.