Pâte de Verre – Art and Design term

In: Decorative & Applied Arts, Decorative Arts Dictionary, Design News, Dictionaries
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Blue bowl Francois-Émile Deecorchement 925-26
Blue bowl Francois-Émile Deecorchement 925-26

Pâte de Verre (French, “glass paste”) is a material produced by grinding glass into a fine powder, adding a binder to create a paste, and adding a fluxing medium to facilitate melting. The paste is brushed or tamped into a mould, dried, and fused by firing. After annealing, the object is removed from the mould and finished.

The Pâte de Verre Process

The pâte de verre technique involves several meticulous steps:

  1. Model Creation: An initial model of the desired form is sculpted, typically from clay or wax.
  2. Mould Making: To capture details, a refractory mould is crafted around the model.
  3. Glass Paste Preparation: Finely crushed glass powders are mixed with a binding agent, such as gum arabic and water, to form a paste. Colourants can be added to achieve specific hues.
  4. Mould Filling: The glass paste is carefully applied to the mould’s interior surfaces, allowing for precise placement of colours and gradients.
  5. Firing: The mould is placed in a kiln and heated to temperatures where the glass particles fuse but do not fully liquefy, preserving the detailed placement of the paste.
  6. Annealing and Finishing: After controlled cooling, the mould is removed, revealing the glass form, which may undergo additional finishing processes.

This method enables the creation of thin-walled, delicate structures with intricate colour patterns and textures, distinguishing pâte de verre from other glassmaking techniques.

It first appeared in Egypt around 1570 BC. Sculptor Henri Cros reintroduced the process for large relief sculptures. Albert-Louis Dammouse refined the technique further into vessels in 1898 and Francois-Émile Deecorchement in 1900.

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

The House of Glass – Glass Terminology & Facts. https://www.thehouseofglassinc.com/dictionary.htm

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