Antique mercury glassware

Mercury glass is popping up everywhere. Elegant and beautiful, the technique is easy to do and is an affordable way to dress up a variety of glass pieces. Use it on empty glass bottles, add it to vases and votives.

 

westelm.com

With Christmas just around the corner, this is a stunning way to spruce up items that you already have and refresh them for a new season. Silver leaf can be used to create a mercury finish on glass of any shape or size. The only requirement is that you can get your hand inside to apply.

Add a touch of mercury glitz to garden lanterns made from recycled glass jars - they look stunning when lit up with tealight candles and strung around the garden.

 

 

Give an old glass lampshade a completely new look by applying the mercury technique to the inside of the shade - then switch on the light for a shimmering display. You don't have to use silver foil for this technique, other foils (gold, copper, bronze) also work just as well.

GOOD TO KNOW
For decorative or display items that only receive a light, occasional dusting, you can also try this technique on the outside of the glass. However, you will need to apply a couple of coats of clear polyurethane spray varnish to protect.

YOU WILL NEED:

Silver leaf
Size adhesive
Umber oil paint or glaze
Sponge brush
Medium artist's paintbrush
Glass vase that you can stick your hand into - or recycle an old glass lampshade

GOOD TO KNOW
Substitute
aluminiun leaf for the same effect - it's far cheaper than silver leaf

HERE'S HOW:

1. Apply size adhesive
Brush size adhesive onto the inside of the vase using the sponge brush. The adhesive is white so you will easily be able to see where you have put the adhesive. Cover the entire inside of the vase, making sure that the adhesive doesn't puddle in the bottom of the vase. If it does puddle, just wipe it out with a paper towel

2. Allow to dry
Let the adhesive dry as specified - it will become tacky and creamy in colour.

3. Apply leaf
Take a piece of leaf and place it onto the adhesive with the shiny side towards the adhesive. The key is to not be a perfectionist. If the leaf crinkles - no worries, it will look great. Press the leaf into the adhesive and then slowly peel off the backing to leave the leaf behind. If the leaf rips or comes off in pieces, even better. We don't want the glass to be all silver, we are going for mercury glass, which is imperfect.

4. Brush off
Brush off any excess leaf off with a soft paintbrush and remove.

5. Glaze
If you are happy with the look of the mercury glass, stop now. However, if you want a more antique look, this would be the time to add the glaze. To do this, brush burnt umber onto the inside of the vase and then immediately wipe it off with a soft cloth. You can wipe off as much as you like, or leave as much as you like.