技法
pâte de verre
Japanese: パート・ド・ヴェール
A technique in which glass powder or frit is packed into a mold and densified at sintering temperatures. This produces a unique, translucent texture. / Note: A technique that falls between fusing and casting (750–850°C)
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Pâte de verre (French for “glass paste”) is a technique in which glass powder or frit is packed into a refractory plaster mold and densified at sintering temperature to create three-dimensional forms. Its viscosity range is log η 6–8, placing it exactly midway between fusing—where the glass is melted into a sheet—and casting, where the glass is made to flow. Revived in France during the Art Nouveau period by artists such as Henri Cros and François Décorchemont, it is still produced around the world today due to its unique, translucent texture with a sense of depth.
Firing Process
Glass powder or frit is mixed with water and a binder and filled into the cavity of the mold. First, the water and binder are removed during a step-holding phase at 200–500°C, followed by viscous sintering at a peak temperature of 750–850°C. The piece is then rapidly cooled through the devitrification zone (crash cooling), annealed at around 482°C, and cooled in three stages. The maximum temperature is slightly lower than that for casting, and the holding time is longer.
This entry is written in Japanese by Rei Chikaoka and translated for readers outside Japan. If something reads oddly, the original is the source of truth.