Sandblasted Glass

Decorative glass of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries used etching to produce a frosted pattern. The two common methods are sandblasting and etching.

Sandblasting is accomplished by pressure-spraying a fine abrasive onto the glass. The design is created by masking off the areas with a protective film while blasting the unprotected areas removing the surface of the glass. The design or background can be exposed depending on the function of the glass. The resulting effect is a little coarser than etching, but a greater degree of 3-dimensional representation can be achieved. Sandblasting as a technique is more flexible and easier to control than other etching methods, anything from a fine to deep effect can be produced. With a deep sandblast the design is slightly recessed making gilding or colour filling an additional option.

Sandblasting is a great way to have designs on both mirrors and clear glass. Designs can range from a simple border to a full decorative feature.