About Lithophanes

Perhaps one of the most unusual and interesting art forms to emerge from the early 19th century is the Lithophane.  Generally credited as being the invention of Baron Paul de Bourguignon, of Rubelles, France, in 1827, the earliest forms of lithophane may have been produced in China many years before other countries produced them. Chinese potters employed the process to trace floral designs in the delicate walls of eggshell thin porcelain vase.

However, it was the Europeans that evolved the concept from simple floral pictures into complex, intricately detailed scenes. A wide variety of images began to appear on lithophanes. The subject matter included quaint and delightful replicas of rural scenes and children at play, reproductions of famous portraits and popular paintings, dramatic religious scenes, hunting images, and scenic panoramas.

"Lithophanes began their life as a thin sheet of beeswax.  Artisans carved the pictures in the wax, a plaster-of-Paris mold was made from the wax carving and the porcelain slip was poured in this mold to dry.  Removed from the mold, the porcelain was then fired.  Where the picture is the lightest, the porcelain is very thin, and where it is darkest, the porcelain is very thick. They functioned as candle shields, night lights, lampshades, fire screens, veilleuse-théières (tea warmers) and were hung in windows to catch the light." - The Blair Museum of Lithophanes