10/26/09

The buzz about Mercury Glass




BassetFurniture.com

Blogland and Home Decor store everywhere are buzzing about Mercury Glass.  I've been watching the trend and truly feeling like a numbskull because really?... Glass with mercury?  It sounds like something on the list of things to NOT have around in a home of toddlers.  Then I saw THESE in my Pottery Barn catalog.

They're stunning.  So, in an effort to cure my ignorance (or display it to all of you design savvy readers) I did a little research.

Here's what it says on Wikipedia.
"Mercury glass is the common term for silvered glass, which describes glass that was blown double walled, then silvered between the layers with a liquid silvering solution, and sealed. Although mercury was originally used to provide the reflective coating for mirrors, elemental mercury was never used to create tableware. Silvered glass was free-blown, then silvered with a solution containing silver nitrate and grape sugar in solution, heated, then closed"....."Vases, goblets and all form of tableware were decorated with a variety of techniques including painting, enameling, etching, and engraving. Silvered "mercury" glass is considered one of the first true "art glass" types, that is, glass that was made for display and for its inherent artistic value, rather than for utilitarian use."

 More than you wanted to know I'm sure.  Well, as is characteristic of any crafter... I went in search of a way to fake it.  I mean... FAUX it.  It sounds so much more legit when you say it in French.

BHG has a tutorial that uses vases, but in my opinion the metalic spray paint doesn't quite give the vase enough of the bright whitish silvery luster of Mercury Glass.

Krylon has a great tutorial and shows off their Looking Glass mirror finish product.  This paint seems like the obvious better choice.  You can see both tutorials and decide for yourself.I think I'll be working on a few Mercury Glass project this Christmas for my own home decor as well as for neighbor gifts.

What do you think about the Mercury Glass trend?
Photo Credits: Country Living, Organge County Register

12 comments:

Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. said...

I've always loved it! It just seems so Christmas-y to me.

Unknown said...

I've always loved it, too. I just saw some really pretty mercury glass items in the Crate and Barrel catalog. They are just so pretty and classy looking. Thanks for the info - that was interesting.

Amara said...

I couldn't get to the tutorial at first, but this link works: http://theeverydaybride.blogspot.com/2009/01/abandoned-diy-project-i-diy-mercury.html

~ Regan said...

Love it! I just don't have any because it's so darn expensive...
I hope to creat a m.g. vase soon! I will let you know how it turns out.

Pam said...

I think it's beautiful. Please let us know what kind of results you get when you re-create some mercury glass projects. I might want to steal some of your ideas!

lindalou said...

Being trend clueless, I didn't even know it was a trend. But I love the look. Can't wait to see how your faux efforts turn out.

Alisa said...

What I think? I think it's gorgeous!!!! Going to keep my eyes peeled... Thanks for the educational blurb!

Dogfood Provider said...

Oooh, I wonder how hurricane glass would look Krylon Looking-Glass-ified? I'm going to try it! Love it!

Carrie said...

I LOVE IT! It looks so rich to me. I'm stalking quite a few candle holders like this at three different places that's how much I like it!

Carrie said...

Oh gosh! I really should have read your WHOLE post before I commented! I got so excited about the heading...well...anyway...

I'm picking me up some Krylon!

Dianna said...

I like the last picture with the bells and vase.

It will be a great project for the holidays.

Suesan said...

I love the look, HomeGoods is full of it lately too- Christmas & regular decor!

 
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