Enamel
Enamel Butterflies. The ancient Egyptians applied enamels to stone objects, pottery, and sometimes jewelry, although to the last less often than in contemporaneous cultures in the Near East. The ancient…
Opalescent Glass
Opalescent Glass Butterflies. The term "opalescent glass" is commonly used to describe glass where more than one color is present, being fused during the manufacture, as against flashed glass in…
Posted inAntiques Glossary Metalware Butterflies
Gold
Gold Butterflies. Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79, making it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. In its purest…
Crystal / Lead Glass
Lead glass, commonly called crystal, is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass. Lead glass contains typically 18–40% (by weight) lead(II)…
Posted inAntiques Glossary Metalware Butterflies
Ormolu
Ormolu is an English term, used since the 18th century for the gilding technique of applying finely ground, high-carat gold–mercury amalgam to an object of bronze, and for objects finished…