GOLD ETCHED Technique: The Japanese call this technique “kusarashi” which literally means “to eat away.” The etching was created by acid corrosion. The body of the porcelain was prepared by receiving whatever paint, enamel, or decoration needed and then fired. Then the artist protected the decorated area by covering it with coal-tar paper so that it would not be subjected to the etching process. The piece was then soaked for a fixed period of time in a mixture of hydrogen fluoride (hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, and nitric acid). When the coal-tar paper was removed it revealed that the area was untouched by the acid and was a bright finish while the remainder of the body was “etched” or looked as though it had been “eaten by insects” and had a matte finish. The contrast was striking. We find this technique on items that were bought as “blanks” and finished by Art Studios, like Pickard, as well as later Nippon era items by companies like Noritake. Around 1918, Noritake began to produce their own wares using this technique. These items are marked with an M in Wreath mark and Made in Japan (not Nippon) mark which was first used in 1918.

MEMBERS, for more information, go HERE.