Children’s Drawings Engraved: A 70th Birthday Decanter

This commission involved engraving a decanter using a series of drawings supplied by three grandchildren.

Reference and Layout

The source material consisted of multiple hand-drawn images, each with its own line quality and scale.

The drawings were prepared as engraving artwork, with line weights adjusted to ensure they would translate clearly when sandblasted. The individual elements were then arranged into a continuous composition, forming a full 360° wrap around the body of the decanter.

A personalised message was set separately as a circular inscription around the shoulder, positioned to follow the form of the bottle beneath the neck.

Preparation

The layout required careful alignment across two distinct areas of the glass.

The body engraving was prepared as a continuous wrap, ensuring the drawings flowed evenly around the full circumference. The shoulder inscription introduced a second curved path, requiring precise positioning so the text would read consistently when viewed from the front.

Both elements were prepared separately, then brought together during stencil application.

Engraving

Once approved, the artwork was transferred to stencil and applied to the decanter.

The engraving was carried out using sandblasting, producing a consistent etched finish across both the wraparound drawings and the shoulder inscription.

Outcome

The finished piece combines a full 360° engraved scene with a secondary band of text around the shoulder.

A multi-part composition, resolved across both the body and upper form of the decanter.