When you say the pattern is embossed, what does you mean, exactly?

I once had a vase that had had a repeated logo (of a stick man) etched into it, then subsequently enamelled black in the dips.
Is this like that, or are the stars added on top?
How has it been satinated? Acid or sandblasting? (it looks as if it might be quite fine, - acid?)
I can't really make out how the surface was achieved.