Lithophane

When Lithophane (Greek λίθος lithos "stone" and φαίνειν phainein " make visible light, appear "; sporadically light screen ) it is a relief representation in translucent material (often porcelain, plastic or glass), which have to take effect unfolds against the light.

A Lithophane consists of a thin layer of material, usually a disk, which is illuminated by a light source from behind. Due to the different thickness of the material, which can overshadow the light differently as, the observer has a special light or image effect. Because the variable light and dark shades for the design of the relief are crucial as about the contours of the figure, the Lithophanie acts only at the onset of the light source, which also achieved a certain element of surprise.

Originally this technique was developed in the manufacture of porcelain, with a relief was pressed into a porcelain plate before burning with the help of a model. Later this technique was used for the manufacture of glass and modern applied with the help of CNC machines for plastic.

Usually Lithophanieplatten be hung in front of windows, or a plurality of relief plates are assembled to form a lamp, which has been previously irradiated with the petroleum oil lamp, or with a plug from the inside. With modern LED lighting technologies or luminescent films lithophanes can also be prepared as very thin, backlit image today.

Lithophanes were very popular in the mid-19th century; the first patent was issued in 1827 in Paris. Shortly thereafter, most porcelain factories took over the production of lithophanes, where individual products were copied by the competition. Particularly successful was the production of "Light Screens " performed by the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin 1830-1862.

In 1849, were first developed in the Porzellanmanufactur Plaue lithophanes at the suggestion of Gottfried Henklein. To date, they are still made and continued with new designs. Meanwhile, over 2,500 Lithophanie models are in the factory.

Also lithophanes were admitted from white glass with the beginning of the mechanical glass production in the bottom of beer glasses, which were only visible when emptying the glass.

As a variant of the diaphanie provided as window decorations lithophanes in the 19th century were also made in relief pulps.