Children’s Drawings, Preserved in Glass

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.

Each drawing had its own scale, proportions and style, reflecting the age and character of the child who created it. Rather than treating the drawings as separate engravings, the aim was to bring them together into a single composition that could wrap continuously around the body of the decanter.

The drawings were redrawn and adjusted for engraving, preserving their original character while ensuring the linework would reproduce clearly in glass. Elements were then arranged to create a continuous scene, allowing the viewer to move around the decanter and discover different parts of the story as the bottle is 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. This detail was developed during the preparation stage, creating a visual link between the drawings below and the personal message above while making fuller use of the form of the bottle.

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.