Rachel Toy After losing my wonderful husband to cancer, and a bit of a pause on writing for my blog, I wanted to ease back in by putting the spotlight on some of my vintage finds. Where better to start than looking the beauty of reverse painted glass?
These mid century beauties have been waiting patiently in my shed shop for a while, and now they are on the website, I thought it would be nice to go into a bit more detail about them, as well as sharing a little of the history behind this fascinating technique.
Reverse Painted Glass Floral Cake Stand
This is a gorgeous, mid century cake stand with easy foldable handle for ease of storage and use. It has a metal base and the handle is chrome, but the main feature is the beautiful reverse painted glass tray. It is a pretty floral motif (popular in the early mid century period) and set against a blue background (also painted on). As the main hand painted decoration is on the reverse of the glass it has the benefit of not being scratched or chipped. However, in this example, some of the background paint is starting to wear around the edges, probably from some stray crumbs!
It was made in the 1950s or early 1960s at the time of proper table settings and pretty china. I can just imagine dainty slices of cakes or biscuits being served on this tray, as an accompaniment to some tea (in a cup of course, with a saucer). Perhaps it was even used in street parties for Queen Elizabeth II coronation, or at garden parties with delicate cucumber sandwiches!
It is still very much a useable item now too, for adding a tough of elegance to those tea parties at home, or even just as a lovely ornament on your mid century kitchen shelf. You could even hang it on the wall as a pretty picture. The glass captures the light perfectly and it is is a great example of the beauty of reverse painted glass.
Available to buy in my shop here: https://rachelsvintageretro.co.uk/product/vintage-reverse-painted-floral-glass-cake-stand-with-wire-swing-handle-50s/
Reverse Painted Glass Tropical Bar Tray & Coasters
Scenes like this were popular in the 1950s and 1960s when people started to travel abroad more for heir holidays. Also men coming back from overseas service in the Second World War would have seen a lot more of other countries than they ever would if stayed at home. As they went back to work in the factories, this experience influenced homeware design too.
This charming bar tray set evokes this trend with a beautiful reverse painted idyllic island design. There are palm trees, a beach, sea and a small boat sailing by. The edge is metal with a machine cut out design, and it has matching coasters in miniature! At some point drink has probably seeped into them as they do have a few marks under the glass, some worse than others. Again, they are still very useable however! Add the set to your home bar or tiki lounge, and sip margaritas or pina coladas, served from the tray. I can just hear the sea and the island band playing now! Another great example of the beauty of reverse painted glass.
Available to buy in my shop here: https://rachelsvintageretro.co.uk/product/vintage-reverse-painted-glass-tray-coasters-set-tropical-island-50s-60s/
What is Reverse Glass Painting?
Reverse glass painting is a method of painting an image directly onto the underside of the glass and the finished image is viewed from the opposite side. The technique is also called verre églomisé, after the French decorator Jean-Baptiste Glomy (1711–86) who began to frame reverse painted glass prints.
Layers of the design are painted in reverse, with the foreground being applied first, then working backwards. In another example, for a face the pupil of the eye would be painted first then the white part, the eyebrows and then the skin. This is the opposite order of traditional painting techniques. It is a challenging skill that requires great planning and precision, sometimes accompanied with gilding, foil backing or lacquer to enhance the effect of the shine. The painted side is then sealed or mounted in a frame to protect it from wear or damage.
Origins and History
It is an Ancient technique originating in Europe in the Middle Ages and Byzantium period where it was used for religious paintings and icons. It spread to Italy and Venice where it had an influence on Renaissance Art.
In China, the artistic technique flourished during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), especially under the Qianlong Emperor, who was a major patron of the arts. It was widely used to decorate snuff bottles (which was a form of powdered tobacco believed to have medicinal qualities and introduced to china by traders in the 17th century). These bottles became a status symbol, being highly prized and intricately decorated. Painting inside the bottle was even more technically demanding than painting on flat glass, as it was applied through the neck of the bottle with a curved brush. Scenes included symbolic or lucky motifs such as fish or peonies, seasonal landscapes and nature, chinese figures and narratives, animals and mythical creatures such as dragons, and calligraphy symbols. These are very collectable today as they have a wondrous jewel like quality and delicate charm, with cultural appeal.
By the 18th century the technique was more widely used in Germany, Austria and France for other decorative objects such as clock faces, furniture panels and signage. In 19th century Britain it was used for decorative mirrors, pub signage and advertisements. Another interesting use was for sentimental art such as mourning pieces.
In the mid to late 20th century, kitsch reverse glass painting saw a revival along with other decorative techniques for household objects. Objects such as trays (above), japanese jewellery boxes, mirrors and glass jewellery often featured floral motifs, Spanish dancers, tropical island views or romanticised scenes. These are now very collectable.
Whether it’s a Chinese snuff bottle, a kitsch 1970s tray, or a floral jewellery box from your childhood, these little artworks offer more than decoration.
They hold memory and meaning — like capturing a moment in amber, sealed under glass.
Do you have any reverse-painted treasures at home? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments.
This blog post is written by Rachel Toy, owner of Rachel’s Vintage & Retro. I am a 20th Century Vintage Blogger and Dealer writing about the vintage lifestyle, collecting, nostalgia and selling vintage. I also sell carefully curated 20th century antiques and collectables from my online vintage shop. I am happy to work with related brands on collaborations and also accept guest blogs. Find out how to work with me.
