Memoir on the origin, progress, and improvement of glass manufactures: including an account of the patent crystallo ceramie, or, glass incrustations

Abstract

First edition, rare. This work is of particular interest for the eight engraved plates showing a cut glass decanter and wine glasses; toilet bottle and water jug; two ornamental candlesticks; a small dining-room lustre (i.e. cut glass chandelier); a sinumbre lamp; a girandole; seals, brooches, knobs, etc. and miscellaneous small pieces. All of these pieces incorporate Pellatt’s patent crystallo ceramie. “In 1819 he introduced into England and patented a French method of decorating flasks, paper-weights, pendants, etc. with cameo-like portrait busts, classical heads, figures of putti etc., made of a porcellaneous white material enclosed in the thickness of the clear crystal glass, i.e. crystallo-ceramie or ‘sulphides.’ He obtained a patent for their manufacture in 1831.” See J. Fleming & H. Honour, Dict. of the decorative arts, pp. 594-5 (from which the above quote is taken and which gives further bibliography). (Charles Wood, cat. 167, # 123)