76 4219 Lithophanes Lot of one bisque porcelain lampshade and 19 panels
- Needs some cleaning.
= In the late 1820s, Kings Porcelain Manufactory in Berlin developed a new form of porcelain art. Master carvers created finely detailed scenes and portraits in wax, which were then used to make the moulds for porcelain plaques they called lithophanes. Porcelain becomes translucent when it is kiln fired at very high temperatures, and an impression, cast into porcelain, will produce a remarkably detailed design by only slight variations in its thickness. Soon hundreds of thousands of lithophanes in a variety of intricate designs were produced in Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, Wales and England. Used as window hangings, fire screens and teapot warmers, some were also placed in the bottoms of steins and cups to delight the eye of the consumer when lifted to the light. Lithophane lamps were given a place of honor in 19th century households. By the turn of the century their popularity had waned and production virtually ceased by 1930. Few of the original lithophanes have survived to the twentieth century. As the true beauty of these translucent images depends on light, many were discarded by heirs of the original owners, unaware of their beauty when properly displayed, and therefore these original lithophanes can be regarded as very rare.