Description
Victorian Light Stand is solid cast metal and stands 9 ¼“ tall, 4 3/4″ wide, the base is 3 3/4″ in diameter, and is finished in antique brass. A “candle cup” in back holds the raised light bulb socket, so the bulb is centered perfectly behind the porcelain panel. Comes complete with 6ft. cord, a bright 25 watt bulb, and an in-line rotary switch on the cord.
What is a Lithophane?
It was the efforts of the Baron de Bourguignon that led to the great popularity of lithophanes during the mid-19th century. His concept was simply this: a sheet of porcelain carved in varying degrees of thickness, when held to a light, would result in a highly detailed picture with the soft image quality of a mezzotint. This simple concept however, was not easy to execute. Sheer artistry of high order was required to make a master carving from which the lithophanes could be molded.
These carvings are first achieved by carving the image into beeswax. The the translucency of the wax allows the artist to see the results of the work. A plaster casting is then taken from the wax engraving, and used for a fine porcelain paste to be pressed into the mold. Once dried, the porcelain panels are kiln fired to 2300 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve their extreme density and amazing translucency.
