Help with reverse painted lamp

[rkale522]

Lamp has a berger harp. Looks like it is reverse painted on the inside of a vase. 

[little.font.lord.leroy]

It is impossible to tell the material from the photos.

Reverse painting seems like a lot of effort for the effect. I men, you gotta stick your hand down in the vase with a brush and dab the dark color? then when its dry go over in the lighter color?

I would guess a ceramic, which may have been painted (after firing?) and then the decal slapped on, though it may be easier to put the decal on after firing.

I don't understand why you believe it's reverse painted? It could have a heavy clear glaze.

I'm unsure what you want to know? The bottom often helps us date a lamp, or tells who made it.

The brass looks like it could be older, or maybe intentionally aged.

On style alone I might guess late 1980s or 1990s because of the verdigris, which looks intentional. But I suppose it could be 1930s. idk.

[rkale522]

Thank you. The exterior of the base is glass as far as I can tell. The reason I felt like it was reverse painted was the art was on the inside of the glass. It may have been etched? Anyone else have any ideas?

[lacemaker3]

Maybe the design was decoupaged onto the inside of a glass vase?

It doesn't appear to be handpainted to me, as reverse glass painting is.

I agree that it would be technically difficult to paint the inside of a glass item, although not impossible.

[little.font.lord.leroy]

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

Maybe the design was decoupaged onto the inside of a glass vase?

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I just can't tell from the photos. a CU of the edge of the Print and the pattering might help.

Okay. do you paint a print with brass/copper paint (hence verdigris). decoupage it onto the inside of the glass. pour some paint in, throw in a tennis ball or rag, roll it around to distribute the paint (unevenly) then spray paint inside.

I can't tell the possible technique (if it is in fact reverse painted), but it has a sponge/rag-roll look, like faux painting of the 1980s-1990s. someone could have used a long handle mop type brush on the inside building up layers, but I would expect there to be tell tale signs like an unevenness or blotches in the corners at the bottom, etc.

[little.font.lord.leroy]

I looked a little closer and it does appear to be glass. The background looks "antiqued" which is hard to do in revers painting.

I suppose you could use a mop brush/rag brush and slap ivory paint on the inside, perhaps the ivory has small streaks of the brown. Then while the ivory is half dry, you go over it with a coco brown color and mop brush, this removes some ivory paint, smears brown with some of the ivory and fills in the gaps giving the illusion of antiquing.