Sandblasted glass is glass decorated or obscured by blasting its surface with fine abrasive particles, such as sand or grit, propelled by compressed air. The process abrades the glass to a frosted, matt finish, and by masking areas with a stencil or resist, craftsmen can create patterns, lettering and pictures that contrast with the clear, polished surface.
The technique was patented in the late nineteenth century and was soon taken up for commercial and architectural work, including door panels, windows, mirrors, shopfronts and public house glazing, where it offered a quicker and safer alternative to acid etching. Deeper blasting, carried out in several stages, can produce sculpted effects in relief, and the method was widely used in Art Deco interiors and lighting for geometric and figurative designs. Studio glass artists later adopted it as well. Sandblasted decoration can be distinguished from acid etching by its slightly coarser, more granular texture, though the two can be hard to tell apart. Collectors should check for chips, scratches and later additions. In period properties, original sandblasted panels in doors and screens are worth preserving, and they are often reused in restoration projects.
