IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PICTURES ON ENAMEL FIXED BY FIRE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, Count STANISLAS JULIAN D'OSTROROG of 5 Conduit Street, New Bond Street,
in the County of Middlesex trading under the name of "Walery" do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PICTURES ON
ENAMEL FIXED BY FIRE" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in obtaining photographic pictures
on enamel fixed by fire. For this purpose a photographic positive of the size of the
enamel which it is desired to produce is prepared from a negative.
A plate also is coated with a solution of distilled water, bichromate of potash,
gum and sugar and dried. It is then exposed to light under the positive picture
previously prepared. When this part of the operation is complete a color in powder
and such as is used in china painting is applied to the plate. The colour should be
of a grey black tint.
It is laid on with a brush to the parts of the plate which have been attacked by
the light.
As soon as the image is perfectly obtained a layer of ordinary collodion is poured
upon the glass and it is then plunged into a vessel containing water to which a few
drops of sulphuric acid have been added.
When the bichromate has been cleared off the plate, the pellicle which represents
the image perfectly, is removed. It is placed upon a copperplate covered with
white enamel; it is very carefully dried and is then passed for a few minutes only
into a muffle heated to a cherry red in an enameling furnace. The layer of collodion
instantly volatilises and the powdered color which forms the image becomes incor-
porated with the white enamel on the plate. The design is thus beautifully
reproduced and glazed; it can be colored by the application of ordinary colors as
employed in painting on porcelain and enamel.
.
The color is applied to the plate when it has the picture in black already upon
it. The picture is reburned, the heat being modified according to the delicacy of
the tints.
For enamel painting intended to imitate old pictures or miniatures the process
modified as follows:-
is
The design is first produced upon the enamel in the manner already described
but very lightly and the colors are then applied without any attempt at shading;
the enamel is then again burned.

page_text: Afterwards a second pellicle, with the same picture or design upon it in black is
applied over the first and the plate is again burned. The colors will then appear
shaded and modulated by the pellicle of black enamel with which they are covered.
The shading thus obtained is very delicate, a few touches may be added over all,
and the work reglazed at a moderate heat.
Thus very perfect imitations of ancient colors are obtained such as it is impossible
.to produce by the ordinary processes.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I Count STANISLAS JULIAN D'OSTROROG of 5 Conduit Street New Bond Street
in the County of Middlesex trading under the name of "Walery" do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PICTURES ON
ENAMEL FIXED BY FIRE" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This Invention has for its object improvements in obtaining photographic pictures
on enamel fixed by fire. For this purpose a photographic positive of the size of the
enamel which it is desired to produce is prepared from a negative.
The positive is obtained by preference upon a glass plate; the lights of this
picture are translucent. A plate also, by preference of glass, is coated with a
solution of distilled water, bichromate of potash, gum and sugar and dried; this is
the ordinary bichromate preparation used in many photographic processes. It is
then exposed to light under the positive picture previously prepared. When this
part of the operation is complete the plate is taken out of the printing case in the
dark laboratory and is gently heated, then a color in powder and such as is used in
china painting is applied to the plate; this is done with a delicate brush until the
picture comes out distinctly. The color should be of a grey black tint and when
used should be absolutely dry; the color adheres more-freely to those parts of the
surface which have been least acted upon by the light.
As soon as the image is perfectly obtained a layer of ordinary collodion is poured
upon the glass and it is then plunged into a vessel containing water to which a few
drops of sulphuric acid have been added. The pellicle soon becomes detached and it
is floated off the glass plate.
When the bichromate has been cleared off the plate, the pellicle which represents
the image perfectly, is guided by the aid of a delicate brush as it floats in the water'
on to the surface of an enamel plate which is also immersed. The plate is a copper
plate covered in the usual way on both sides with white enamel. When in this
way the pellicle has been placed on the surface of the enamel, it is very carefully
dried and is then passed for a few minutes only into a muffle heated to a cherry
red in an enameling furnace. The layer of collodion instantly volatilizes and the
powdered color which forms the image becomes incorporated with the white enamel
on the plate. The design is thus beautifully reproduced and glazed; it can be
colored by the application of ordinary colors as employed in painting on porcelain
and enamel.
The colour is applied to the plate when it has the picture in black already upon
it. The picture is reburned, the heat being modified according to the delicacy of
the tints.
For enamel painting intended to imitate old pictures or miniatures the process is
modified as follows.
The design is first produced upon the enamel in the manner already described
but very lightly and the colors are then applied without any attempt at shading;
the enamel is then again burned.
Afterwards a second pellicle with the same picture or design upon it in black is
applied over the first. This is done by floating the pellicle in the manner already
described and guiding it with great care to its place so that every line upon it is
accurately adjusted to the corresponding line of the design already upon the plate.
The pellicle is then carefully dried as before and afterwards the plate is again
burned. The colours will then appear shaded and modulated by the pellicle of

page_text: black enamel with which they are covered. The shading thus obtained is very
delicate, a few touches may be added over all, and the work reglazed at a moderate
heat.
Thus very perfect imitations of ancient colors are obtained such as it is impossible
to produce by the ordinary processes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
.
(1). In producing photographs on enamel the process of applying a powdered
color to a surface on which a photographic image has been imprinted in such a
manner that the powder adhering to the surface forms a picture and then trans-
ferring the said picture to enamel and fixing it thereon by burning.
(2). In producing photographs on enamel the process of obtaining the picture in
powdered color then spreading collodion thereon so forming a pellicle in which the
color is held then transferring the pellicle to the surface of enamel and lastly fixing
the color to the enamel by burning.
(3). In producing photographs on enamel the process of laying upon the enamel
a pellicle carrying a photographic picture in powdered color, then fixing the picture
on the enamel by burning, then applying other colors and lastly laying on over
the rest another pellicle carrying a picture similar to the first and again fixing by
burning.
(4). The production of enamels with photographic pictures thereon substantially
as herein described.