A New Method of Decorating Surfaces to Supersede the Use of Natural Ice, and in Compounds therefor, which Compounds are also applicable to the Manufacture of Various Decorative Objects.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by AUGUSTE GOUTS and EMILE TEDESCO, both
of 70, Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France, Chemical Engineers.]
A New Method of Decorating Surfaces to Supersede the Use of
Natural Ice, and in Compounds therefor, which Compounds
are also applicable to the Manufacture of Various Decorative
Objects.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 78 Flect Street, in the City of London, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, 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, that is to say :-
This invention relates to a new method of decorating surfaces and has for its
object to supersede the use of natural ice, by employing different substances which,
when combined together and treated in the manner about to be described, produce a
compound possessing the transparency, reflection, and colour of natural ice, and
which will remain solid at the ordinary temperature, even in warm climates. Also
by this invention not only may ice palaces and ice grottoes be imitated, but ice in
all its various conditions may be represented, such as hoar frost, snow or hail, or
smooth, rough, opaque, or transparent ice may be equally well imitated. And
furthermore, the natural concretions of grottoes, stalactites, stalagmites, with quartz
crystals, diamonds, etc. etc. may be imitated.
This artificial ice may be coloured, for instance, blue or pale green, preferably by
the use of vegetable colours, and may be illuminated by any suitable means, such
as glow or incandescence lamps.
The compound constituting this artificial ice may likewise be moulded into a
variety of shapes or forms, such for instance as vases, statues and bas-reliefs.
A large number of simple or compound salts can be used for the manufacture of
this compound.
The following are two different mixtures which have been found to give good
results for imitating transparent ice.
One of the following, which I will call mixture A, and the other mixture B, is
first prepared.

page_text: The product is first coarsely crushed and then melted in a bain marie placed in a
boiler and so soon as it becomes fluid it is poured, over the surfaces to be decorated.
In cooling it hardens and imitates natural ice having the appearance of flowing
water which has become frozen. This is the process by fusion. Or the product
may be slightly moistened with water to obtain a thick mortar, it is then heated and
when fluid is poured or run over the surface to be decorated upon which as it cools
it crystallizes. This is the process by crystallization.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The decoration of surfaces in imitation of natural ice, by applying thereto a
liquid compound composed of neutral salts, combined as described, and which com-
pound will, after drying, remain solid at the ordinary temperature, substantially as
described.
2. The manufacture and use of a compound or compounds for imitating natural
ice in all forms, consisting in the combination of the ingredients herein stated,
and in or about the proportions mentioned, the said compound being applied in a
liquid state either, by the process of fusion, or by that of crystallization, sub-
stantially as described.
3. The manufacture of vases, statues, bas-reliefs, and the like, by moulding them
from the artificial ice compound produced as herein described.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1891.