How to Make a Porcelain Lithophane
Lithophanes are colorless translucent sheets of molded porcelain. They are so thin that light passes through them when they are backlighted. Where the porcelain is thicker, less light passes through. The detail of the initial mold determines how intricate the lithophane is. The different levels of thickness allow lithophanes to resemble great works of art, with all the shadings and highlights you would expect in a detailed painting. The strength and position of the light behind it changes the look of the lithophane.
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Things You'll Need
- Reference image
- Small carving tools
- Carving wax
- Pottery plaster
- Porcelain slip (liquid)
- Kiln
Instructions
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1
Place the wax on your carving table and gather your tools as well as your reference image. Choose a simple design to start, because the process will require some experimentation before you perfect it.
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2
Look at some coins to get a feel for the shallow depths to which you will be cutting into the wax. Begin to cut the image into the wax, beginning with the main outlines. Etch carefully into the surface. Do not cut too deeply, because the resulting thickness of the porcelain will prevent light from shining through. Take your time to etch the details once you have established the outlines.
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3
Prepare a small batch of plaster to make a copy of the wax relief. Mix and stir the plaster according to the manufacturer's instructions. Place the wax carving, face up, into a small container with some extra space left around the edges. Pour in the plaster mix and let it cure for about an hour.
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4
Remove the plaster from the container and carefully remove the wax from the plaster. It should release easily, leaving you with the reverse copy in plaster.
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5
Pour liquid porcelain into the plaster mold, filling it to the top. Let the clay dry in the mold until it releases easily from the mold.
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6
Fire the thin porcelain copy in a kiln to the temperature prescribed by the clay manufacturer. Once it's fired and cooled, take the colorless porcelain casting and mount it in front of a light, with the carved surface facing away from the light source, to reveal the carving in all its detail.
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Etch the wax engraving to a lesser depth to allow more light to shine through the porcelain lithophane. To make it less translucent, simply add more thickness by carving deeper into the wax before making the mold.
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References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
