Description

This process was invented by Benjamin Tilghman in Philadelphia in 1870. It was initially also used on illumination glass and decorative vases, on which high-relief decorative patterns could also be obtained.

In this process, the surface of the glass is blasted with grains of sand or, for more refined objects, corundum powder (aluminium oxide), thereby attacking the glass to make it matt or to make canals of various depths. The parts to be protected are covered with a special adhesive film, while traditionally a glue mixture was used. By repeating the operation over and over again, and protecting each time the parts to be dug less deeply, different types of engravings can be obtained.