Reverse glass sign painting
The making of signs by painting and applying metal leaf to the reverse of glass panes. See also brilliant cutting.
| Status | Endangered |
| Craft category | Glass |
| Historic area of significance | UK |
| Area currently practised | |
| Origin in the UK | 19th century |
| Current no. of professionals (main income) | 6-10 |
| Current no. of professionals (sideline to main income) |
21-50 |
| Current no. of trainees | |
| Current total no. serious amateur makers |
Around 10 |
| Current total no. of leisure makers |
Around 51-100 |
| Minimum no. of craftspeople required |
History
Techniques
- French embossing (most endangered)
- Acid etching (most endangered)
- Brilliant cutting (critically endangered)
- Water gilding
- Silvering
- Angel gilding
- Verre églomisé
- Graining (related to marbling)
Local forms
Sub-crafts
Issues affecting the viability of the craft
- The craft is labour intensive which puts people off learning it. It takes dedication and a lot of time to hone your skills.
- The paints aren’t as good as they used to be which is becoming an issue.
- The high cost of the materials and labour compared to the low cost and high speed of computer designed vinyl graphics reduces the number of clients willing to commission work.
Support organisations
Craftspeople currently known
- David Adrian Smith – apprenticed to Gordon Farr in the 1980s in the UK and Rick Glawson in the 1990s in California and brought the craft back from a brief period where it was not practised at all in the UK. He now has clients from all around the world and is the only person in the world teaching all the processes together.
- Jack Hollands, Signwriting Jack
- Aaron Stephens, Valentine Signs
- Eddy Bennett
- Archie Salandin, Irregular Designs
- Robert Walker, Signs by Umberto
- Archie Proudfoot
- Paul Banks
- The Brilliant Sign Company
- Robert Bondar, Loire Designs
Other information
References
