The Porcelain Garden
The Porcelain Garden creates the finest and most intricately detailed Lithophanes in the United States. Lithophanes are 3-dimensional porcelain transparencies that reveal intricate images when light shines through them.
The first lithophanes were individually carved entirely by hand. Soon, artists created molds so numerous pieces could be cast. To produce these molds, a sheet of wax was placed on a piece of plate glass. A skilled artisan would then bring to life an image with scratches and gouges, creating shades from dark to light. Lithophanes were hung in front of windows, where the sunlight revealed the designs in the porcelain. Special lithophane lamps were even created to illuminate these works of art.
In the 1980s, Marty Kubicki discovered this incredible art form of the Victorian era. The Porcelain Garden is dedicated to preserving this extraordinary art form. All of their lithophanes are produced in their studios in the US. The entire process of individually casting, finishing, drying, firing, and inspecting each piece is done today using the same methods developed many generations ago by their predecessors. We fell in love with these beautiful works of art, and know you will love them too.
