Pepita glass engraving
Encyclopedia
Pepita glass engraving is a technique of engraving on glass
used by artisan
s of Mexico, in which an aluminum oxide grinding stone or wheel is used in a grinding machine
to manually carve out patterns of small, decorative pepita-like shapes in glass
objects. Machine-made, molded glass products are also manufactured in a style that mimics the artisanal technique.
in the 15th century. It was then brought to Germany
and Spain
, and then to Mexico in 1524 when Rodrigo de Espinoza opened Mexico's first glass factory, in Puebla
. De Espinoza brought a group of Spanish artisans to teach the natives, who began to blend their own pre-Hispanic
designs with the introduced glass blowing techniques, evolving the style now recognized as pepita.
Glass engraving
Glass engraving is a form of decorative glasswork that involves engraving a glass surface or object. It is distinct from glass art in the narrow sense, which refers to moulding and blowing glass....
used by artisan
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
s of Mexico, in which an aluminum oxide grinding stone or wheel is used in a grinding machine
Grinding machine
A grinding machine, often shortened to grinder, is a machine tool used for grinding, which is a type of machining using an abrasive wheel as the cutting tool...
to manually carve out patterns of small, decorative pepita-like shapes in glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
objects. Machine-made, molded glass products are also manufactured in a style that mimics the artisanal technique.
History
According to studio glass craftsman José Cruz Guillén, the tradition first began in the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in the 15th century. It was then brought to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and then to Mexico in 1524 when Rodrigo de Espinoza opened Mexico's first glass factory, in Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
. De Espinoza brought a group of Spanish artisans to teach the natives, who began to blend their own pre-Hispanic
Pre-Columbian era
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
designs with the introduced glass blowing techniques, evolving the style now recognized as pepita.