Children’s Drawings Engraved Around a 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 drawings created by three grandchildren.

The drawings were brought together into a single composition wrapping around the body of the decanter.

Each drawing was redrawn for engraving, with line weight adjusted where necessary while retaining the proportions and irregularities of the original artwork.

The prepared drawings were then arranged around the circumference so that different elements came into view as the decanter was turned.

Additional Detail

The shoulder of the decanter provided an opportunity to introduce a second layer to the design.

A handwritten message and one of the children’s hand-drawn hearts were incorporated as a circular inscription beneath the neck, creating a second engraved element above the wraparound drawings.

Preparation

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

The body engraving was prepared as a continuous wrap, while the shoulder inscription followed a separate curved path beneath the neck. Both were prepared independently and aligned during stencil application.

Engraving

Once the Engraving Layout was approved, both elements were prepared for stencil production and applied separately 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.

The finished composition uses both the body and shoulder of the decanter, allowing several pieces of family artwork to sit together without flattening them into one uniform style.