Improvements in Cloisonne Work.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1898
CUMI ULIE DI FULTIVATION
Improvements in Cloisonne Work.
We, THEOPHIL PFISTER, and EMIL BARTHELS, both of 5, 6 & 7, Lensden Place,
Golden Lane, in the County of London, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Panels and the like for windows and wall decorations have heretofore been
made from strips of metal affixed to the surface of glass, and loose materials in
a broken or granular condition introduced between the said strips of metal and
caused to adhere by fish glue and bichromate of potash, as set forth in the
Specification of prior Letters Patent No. 1995 of 1897, granted to us.
Ornamental work of this character is not adapted for being washed and cleaned
and hence it has necessarily been covered by a sheet of glass at the front in order
to avoid the deleterious effects of moisture and to prevent the tarnishing and
soiling of the surface of the work. Such covering sheet of glass is however
objectionable by reason of its reflecting the light and so interfering with the
beauty of the design, and because of its liability to be broken, and it is very
desirable therefore to so modify the construction as to enable the covering glass
sheet to be dispensed with. This is the object of our present invention and is
accomplished by making the ornamental work waterproof and so adapted for
being washed or otherwise cleaned to maintain the brilliancy of the panel with-
out injuring the same.
In carrying out our invention, we according to one method take a plate of
glass or other transparent material and lay the same upon a sheet of paper upon
which is drawn the pattern or design to be produced, or we mark out the pattern
in any desired manner on a surface upon which the foundation plate is laid.
We next apply to the upper surface of the said plate narrow strips of metal cut
out, moulded or bent to conform to the outline of the ornamental work, and
cause these strips or pieces of metal to adhere directly to the surface by a suit-
able cement, preferably a waterproof varnish, such as a quick drying furniture
varnish.
After the outlines of the ornamentation have been affixed to the surface of the
plate, we fill into the spaces thus formed, suitable broken or powdered materials,
for example broken pieces of glass, blind beads, or the like, arranged as regards
compactness and colour in accordance with the artistic effects to be produced.
After the pattern or the desired portions thereof have been thus produced, we
pour upon the pieces of glass or other fragmentary materials a strongly adhesive
and transparent or nearly transparent waterproof varnish
of any suit-
able character. We find for this purpose that French varnish slightly
diluted with alcohol is generally preferable.
The partitions
retain
of metal form dams to
the liquid varnish thus poured upon
that such varnish does not necessarily spread
the pieces of material
The varnish is allowed to
upon any of the plain portions of the plate.
set or dry so as to hold the pieces of mineral material firmly together and to the
foundation plate, and also to hold the strips or divisions to the small pieces of
mineral material and at the same time to firmly affix these strips to the surface
So
or
strips

page_text: of the plate. By this method the pieces of transparent or translucent or other
materials are firmly affixed to the plate which forms the back of the finished work
and a highly artistic effect is produced by transmitted light, especially so when
the varnish that is made use of is substantially colourless, but if desired, trans-
parent colouring material may be added to the varnish as may be required in
accordance with the artistic effect to be produced.
In some instances glue or other adhesive material may be used for securing
the strips and the pieces of glass or other material to the plate, and then the
adhesive water-proof varnish is added to form the finished surface that is adapted
to resist the action of moisture, especially in washing and cleaning such surface.
The varnish in most cases increases the brilliancy of the transparent pieces of
material, and the ornamental work is clearly visible through the varnish and is
not obscured by reflected light as is the case when a plate of glass intervenes.
'After the dividing strips have been fastened to the plate, we in some instances
ornament. the plate for example by gilding, silvering or bronzing the same so as
to produce a more brilliant effect. The gilding or other ornamentation may be
applied to the spaces between the strips, or to the back of the plate, and in such
a manner that the design only is gilded or ornamented, or the background alone,
or the whole of the picture including the design and background.
We sometimes use for cementing the particles together a suitable hardening
or crystalizing cement of such a nature that it will when dried permit the work
to be stripped from the foundation plate. We find that fish glue containing
bichromate of potash in the proportion of two parts of fish glue to one part of
bichromate of potash is very suitable for this purpose. We allow the work to
dry whereupon it can be readily stripped from the foundation plate by a blade
inserted between it and the plate. We varnish both sides of the work with a
suitable waterproof varnish to protect the surface and preserve the brilliant
appearance of the work, and to admit of washing or cleaning the work without
injury thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. An ornamental cloisonne panel or the like formed by a backing plate, strips
or pieces of metal or the like affixed thereto to form the outlines of the design
or ornamentation, and small intermediate pieces or granules of glass or other
substances cemented together and to the backing and strips by a waterproof
adhesive varnish which forms a surface that can be washed and cleaned, and
with or without the gilding, silvering, bronzing or the like, substantially as set
forth, and for the purposes specified.
2. A modification of the cloisonne work claimed in the preceding claim wherein
the strips forming the outlines and the particles for filling in the designs are
primarily secured together and to the backing by fish glue or other adhesive
material, and then the whole is covered by a waterproof varnish to form a finished
surface which can be washed and cleaned, substantially as, and for the purposes,
specified.
3. A cloisonne panel or the like formed on a backing plate and secured thereto
by a cement such as that herein described, and then stripped from the backing
plate, and varnished on both sides, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of August 1898
GEORGE HARRISON,
35, Therapia Road, Honor Oak, London, Agent for the Applicants.