Thomas Coulborn & Sons is delighted to announce the sale of a rare early glass picture by Zeuner to The MET, New York.
Signed and dated 17 March 1770, the picture is executed in verre églomisé gold and silver, reverse engraved on glass. It depicts hawking, duck shooting and hare coursing in one scene and is composed after elements from several prints in a series titled ‘Hunters and Falconers with their devices', published around 1764 by Johann Elias Ridinger (Augsburg 1731-1780 Augsburg).
Verre églomisé is a technique where gold and silver leaf is applied to glass using a gelatine adhesive and a design is etched using a fine needle. To protect the design, a layer of pigment is applied over the metal leaf. The image is then viewed from the reverse and creates a mirrored effect.
Zeuner's first recorded works date from 1770 onwards, making this example one of his earliest. He was a specialist in this technique, which demanded careful execution and did not allow for any corrections.
His work can be found in several important museums around the world including the Corning Museum of Glass, the Rijksmuseum and the V&A.
For more information, click here or see the entry on The MET's website.