Verre Églomisé: The Art of Reverse Glass Painting
Verre Églomisé is a centuries-old decorative glass technique in which an image is painted and gilded onto the back of a sheet of glass, creating a striking effect when viewed from the front.
The name comes from the French verre églomisé, meaning glass decorated with gold or gilded decoration. It is also commonly referred to as reverse glass painting, although the traditional craft can involve far more than painting alone.
At Creates by Gem, I use this historic technique to create contemporary artwork inspired by maritime heritage, nautical imagery, folklore, adventure and the visual language of vintage signwriting and graphic design.
Each piece is created by hand, working from the back of the glass so that the finished image reveals itself when viewed from the front.
What Does Verre Églomisé Mean?
The term verre églomisé is associated particularly with the application of gold leaf to the reverse of glass.
Unlike conventional painting, where the artist builds an image from the front, reverse glass painting requires the artwork to be constructed backwards.
This means that the elements that would normally be painted last often have to be painted first.
Fine details, lettering and highlights may need to be carefully considered before the larger areas of colour are applied. Once the glass is turned over, the layers come together to create the finished image.
This unusual way of working is one of the things that makes reverse glass painting so fascinating — and so unforgiving.
There is very little room for correction once a layer has been applied.
How Does Reverse Glass Painting Work?
The basic principle is simple:
The artwork is painted onto the back of the glass and viewed from the front.
But creating a finished piece involves a carefully considered sequence of layers.
Depending on the design, the process can include:
Preparing and cleaning the glass
Transferring or drawing the design
Applying lettering and fine details
Painting individual elements in reverse
Applying metallic finishes
Water gilding or oil gilding
Adding gold leaf
Incorporating decorative effects
Building up opaque and transparent layers
Applying the final background
Carefully cleaning and finishing the glass
Because the viewer sees the artwork through the glass, the surface of the glass itself becomes part of the finished piece.
It gives the work a depth and luminosity that can be difficult to achieve with conventional painting.
Why Is It Called "Reverse" Glass Painting?
The word reverse describes the way the artwork is constructed.
Imagine looking at a finished painting through a window. Normally, you would paint the background first and then add the foreground and details on top.
With reverse glass painting, you are effectively working from the other side.
The glass acts as a protective surface over the artwork, so the final image is seen through the glass rather than directly from the painted surface.
This creates an interesting visual quality. Fine lines can appear exceptionally crisp, while metallic elements such as gold leaf can catch and reflect light beneath the glass.
The Role of Gold Leaf
Gold leaf is one of the most distinctive elements associated with Verre Églomisé.
Extremely thin sheets of gold are carefully applied to the reverse of the glass to create gilded areas within the design.
When viewed from the front, the glass protects the delicate gold leaf while allowing its reflective qualities to remain visible.
I particularly enjoy working with 23.75 carat gold leaf, using gilding as both a decorative and graphic element within my pieces.
Gold doesn't simply add colour. It interacts with the light falling onto the glass, creating a changing quality as the viewing angle and surrounding light change.
This is especially effective in pieces inspired by nautical and maritime imagery, where gold can suggest brass fittings, traditional signage, medals, navigation instruments and the decorative details of historic vessels.
Water Gilding and Oil Gilding
There are different approaches to gilding, and two traditional techniques are water gilding and oil gilding.
Water Gilding
Water gilding uses a water-based adhesive, traditionally associated with highly refined gilded surfaces.
It can produce an exceptionally smooth and luminous finish and allows for techniques such as polishing and decorative finishing.
Oil Gilding
Oil gilding uses an oil-based size to adhere the gold leaf.
It is particularly useful where a durable gilded surface is required and can be used on a range of surfaces and applications.
Both techniques require patience, precision and an understanding of how gold leaf behaves.
Working with genuine gold leaf is very different from simply applying metallic paint.
A Craft Built on Precision
One of the challenges of reverse glass painting is that you cannot simply paint over a mistake in the same way you might on canvas.
The order of application matters.
If a line, letter or decorative element needs to appear in front of another part of the design, it may need to be applied first.
The finished piece therefore has to be planned almost like a series of layers.
This makes the process part painting, part sign writing and part problem-solving.
Every mark has to be considered in relation to what will eventually sit behind it.
Verre Églomisé and Signwriting
Reverse glass painting has a close relationship with traditional sign writing.
Historically, glass was an important surface for commercial signs, shopfronts, pub mirrors and decorative advertising.
Gilded lettering on glass could create a highly polished and distinctive sign while also offering exceptional visual impact.
This connection between lettering, gilding, glass and commercial art is something that particularly interests me.
My work draws inspiration from vintage signwriting, maritime graphics, propaganda posters, social realism and mid-century design, combining these influences with the traditional techniques of reverse glass painting.
The result is work that looks backwards and forwards at the same time — rooted in a historic craft but created with contemporary subject matter.
The History of Verre Églomisé
Decorating glass with gilded and painted designs is an old practice, with examples and related techniques appearing across different periods and cultures.
The French term verre églomisé became associated with a particular form of reverse gilding and decoration on glass.
The technique has been used for decorative panels, furniture, mirrors, picture frames, signs and other objects.
Reverse glass painting has also appeared in religious art, portraiture, decorative arts and commercial signage.
Over time, advances in materials and mass-produced decoration meant that many traditional hand-painted glass techniques became less common.
Today, artists and craftspeople continue to preserve and reinterpret these techniques, bringing them into contemporary art and design.
Why I Work With Reverse Glass Painting
For me, Verre Églomisé offers something that conventional painting doesn't.
There is a physical relationship between the image, the glass and the light.
A piece can appear bold and graphic from a distance, while revealing tiny details, gilding and layers of paint when viewed more closely.
I am particularly drawn to subjects with a sense of adventure, heritage and storytelling.
My work often explores:
Maritime history
Nautical symbols
Sea folklore
Adventure and exploration
Vintage graphic design
Traditional signwriting
Mid-century aesthetics
Humour and visual storytelling
I like taking these familiar visual languages and putting them into unexpected combinations.
The result might be a diver surfing a submarine, a nautical emblem or a piece inspired by sea folklore — all created using a technique with a history stretching back centuries.
What Makes Each Piece Unique?
Every Creates by Gem reverse glass painting is made by hand by Gem herself.
The process means that small variations can occur in the paint, gilding and finishing. Rather than being imperfections, these details are part of the character of a handmade object.
The gold or silver may catch the light differently from one area to another. Brush marks may remain visible. The glass itself can influence how the finished image looks.
No two handmade pieces are ever completely identical.
For collectors, this is part of the appeal of owning an original rather than a reproduction.
Verre Églomisé Today
Although Verre Églomisé has historic roots, there is no reason for it to be confined to historical imagery.
Contemporary artists can use the technique to explore almost any subject.
At Creates by Gem, I am interested in using this traditional craft to make artwork that feels bold, contemporary and personal.
The combination of glass, paint and genuine gold leaf gives the work a distinctive physical quality that photographs often struggle to capture.
The artwork changes subtly depending on the light and the angle from which it is viewed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Verre Églomisé the same as reverse glass painting?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but technically Verre Églomisé specifically refers to decorative gilding on the reverse of glass. Reverse glass painting is the broader term for painting an image onto the back of glass and viewing it from the front.
Is Verre Églomisé made with real gold?
Traditional Verre Églomisé often incorporates gold leaf. At Creates by Gem, genuine gold leaf is used in selected pieces, including 23.75 carat gold leaf, along with silver and copper leaf.
Is reverse glass painting difficult?
Yes. The process requires careful planning because the artwork is constructed in reverse. Mistakes can be difficult or impossible to correct without removing layers or starting again.
How long does a reverse glass painting take?
The time varies considerably depending on the size, complexity and techniques involved. A highly detailed piece incorporating gilding and multiple layers of paint can take many hours or days to complete.
Can I commission a Verre Églomisé artwork?
Yes. Creates by Gem offers bespoke reverse glass painting commissions. These can be created around personal stories, meaningful symbols, nautical themes, special occasions or completely original ideas.
Can Verre Églomisé be used for gifts?
Absolutely. A bespoke piece can make a particularly personal wedding, anniversary, birthday, retirement or commemorative gift because the design can be created specifically around the recipient.
Discover Reverse Glass Painting by Creates by Gem
I create original Verre Églomisé and reverse glass paintings from my studio, combining traditional craft techniques with contemporary imagery.
From maritime-inspired artwork and nautical symbols to sea folklore, gilded designs and completely bespoke commissions, each piece is created by hand on glass.
Explore the collection or get in touch to discuss a commission.