Definition: Eglomise is a decorative furniture technique used in case goods, which was popular in the 18th and 19th Centuries. It involves painting or gilding on the back of glass.
This was usually done on a glass panel which was either applied to, or part of a doorA painted picture showed through the glass. Usually the color applied was either gold or blue.
The technique, however, has been in use since ancient times. For instance, Romans used it on glassware. As a decorative technique for furniture, it was first used in France by French decorator Jean-Baptiste Glomy. It was also named after him. As a matter of fact the literal meaning of the word is Glomyized glass. Glomy used it in mirrors and picture frames.
Eglomise was not confined to France, but made its way across the Atlantic to North America, where it was used by Neoclassical designers in Federal period furniture. Joseph Barry was a Baltimore cabinetmaker who became famous for his eglomise work.
