HAND-MADE United States Secret Service USSS STAINED GLASS Medallion Souvenir

Description

The image is painted using centuries-old technique you can still observe in ancient stained glass windows. The paint is made out of glass ground up to a fine powder and mixed with a medium, such as oil. The technique used for this piece has not changed since the early days of stained glass. The only advantage modern times have given artists is more paint color variations. After each color application the piece needs to be fired in a kiln to temp up to 1250 F. The paint vitrifies onto the glass and becomes its permanent part in the process. Each cycle takes around 10 hrs, so this piece spent approximately 40 hrs in the kiln to be complete.
Another interesting medium used in this piece is so-called silver stain. Silver stain is a pigment made out of real silver. It does not "stick" to the glass like ground up glass paint does, but rather reacts with it at about 1100 F in the kiln. When the silver reacts with glass, it turns a beautiful transparent yellow, orange or brown, depending on the thickness of application, firing temperature and time. If you look on the backside of the piece where the silver stain is applied, you will see a slight "metalling" of the surface - that would be the silver!
Several areas of this piece are also sandblasted, such as the tail and eagle's head. There is no paint in those areas, but it appears glowing white because these areas are sandblasted.
The medallion measures 16'' in diameter.