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Stories from the global community
Come along on the journey!
Day 57: Light Up Your Night with Porcelain Nightlights
Destination:
Irvine, California
Irvine
is a master-planned city in Orange County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the 1960s and the 66-square-mile city was formally incorporated on December 28, 1971. The center of the city is only seven miles from the Pacific Ocean.
August
is the hottest month for Irvine with an average high temperature of 83°F, which is cooler than most places in California. In Irvine, there are 8 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°F.
December has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Irvine with an average of 45°F.
Fun Facts:
Irvine
has 54 miles of off-street bicycle trails, giving residents and visitors a chance to enjoy its warm climate. More than one-third of the city is permanently preserved as parks, natural open space, and trails.
Also: Every October, Irvine hosts the Irvine Global Village Festival to celebrate the diversity among its citizens. The festival consists of entertainment and exhibits from diverse cultures, and foods from various regions of the world.
Art Form:
Lithophane Porcelain Nightlights
Porcelain
Garden nightlights are made from white porcelain ceramic lithophanes with beautiful images that give off a comforting glow in a darkened room.
Perhaps one of the most unusual and interesting art forms to emerge from the early 19th century is the lithophane. Generally credited as being the invention of Baron Paul de Bourguignon of Rubelles, France, in 1827, the earliest forms of lithophanes were actually produced in China. Chinese potters employed the process to trace floral designs in the delicate walls of eggshell thin porcelain vases.
However, it was European potters who evolved the concept from simple floral pictures into complex, intricately detailed scenes. They discovered that a sheet of porcelain carved in varying degrees of thickness would result in a highly detailed picture when
held to a light.
The first lithophanes were individually carved entirely by hand, but artists soon realized that molds could be made, from which numerous pieces could be cast.
The artists first drew the general design on the surface of white wax placed on plate glass. Next they sculpted minute details of the subject chosen for reproduction. A plaster cast was then made, and a moist porcelain paste was pressed into this cast, picking up all the details in the carving. Since the panels were very thin and delicate and the kilns extremely hot, many fired pieces ended up warped, twisted, and cracked. These issues have challenged the makers of lithophanes since the earliest days of production.
In their heyday, lithophanes were produced by many potteries throughout the world. Some of the finest examples were the Wedgwood and Worchester Potteries in England, Phoenix Pottery in Pennsylvania, Beleek in Ireland, and Limoge in France. Candle screen lithophanes were popular, consisting of a decorative frame holding a lithophane with a built-in candleholder to illuminate it from behind.
The Porcelain Garden is dedicated to preserving and, indeed, furthering this extraordinary art form. Produced in
their own studio, all of their lithophanes use many of the same methods developed by the original artists generations ago. Some things have changed. For example, they now use electric kilns for more consistent heating, but the entire process of individually casting, finishing, drying, firing, and inspecting each piece is still done today the same way it was done by their predecessors. They are very proud to produce lithophanes of a quality and detail to rival the finest ever made.
The Company: The Porcelain Garden
The Porcelain Garden was created in 1982 when clay artists Liesa Smith and Marty Kubicki merged their creative talents.
Their first creations were functional household ceramics with sculpted flower decorations, hence the name, The Porcelain Garden. During the early 1980s, Marty and Liesa started carving in translucent porcelain, and enjoyed the direction that their artwork was taking.
One day they were introduced to lithophanes. They quickly realized that this wonderful art form had nearly disappeared, and only a few people were still familiar with it. Marty and Leisa set out to reintroduce lithophanes to the world by creating nightlights at a time when few tasteful and artistic nightlights were being made.
After Leisa left the company, Marty continued to experiment, and later pioneered the technique of coloring lithophanes from the back side. He also added modern images to appeal to today's tastes. The Porcelain Garden nightlights are now recognized as the finest and most intricately detailed lithophanes in the United States.
A talented, dedicated and devoted team
has been the key to the success and
longevity of The Porcelain Garden.
Robert Buhler, their production manager and his brother, Ryan Buhler, have been with the company for over 25 years.
For over 18 years, Daniel Castro has been in charge of casting the delicate porcelain panels. His casting ability is a highly refined skill which takes years to master.
Anibal Hermosillo has been overseeing the shipping for over 15 years.
Marty does all of the design work, original engravings, master mold work, and is personally involved in every aspect of their studio. The Porcelain Garden's long-term commitment to supplying the highest quality porcelain lighting possible has resulted in notable respect in the American Handcrafts Community. Many galleries and fine gifts stores have been selling their artwork for over 20 years, a testimonial to the timelessness of this beautiful product!
Marty and Aahmes Kubicki
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Shopping . . .
Are you ready to explore
what we have in our store?
Having trouble deciding what to give to that special man or fathering figure in your life
for Father's Day?
One of these beautiful night lights or the table lantern would add a soft glow to any den or man cave.
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Don't forget to stamp your Passport!
Click on the
"stamp" to add to your "passport."
We keep track of your stamps for you!
"Collect" at least 12 different "country" stamps during the third 20 days of our around-the-world trip to
be entered
into the drawing for a $25 gift card.
Since we're on Day 57, you only have 3 more days to complete your 12 stamps between days 40 and 60.
At the end of our 80-day
Around the World
excursion, all eligible travelers (minimum of 48 country stamps)
will be
entered into a drawing for . . .
a Grand Prize
$100 shopping spree gift card!
Thanks for traveling with us today.
Where to next? Stay tuned!
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Kudos to those who ordered Father's Day gifts yesterday. They are on their way! Just 5 more days before Father's Day and we still have some great gift ideas. Here are quick suggestions from past "journeys" we've been on:
"Take Me Out To The Ballgame" chime!)
Our online store is, of course, open 24 hours a day. Our Brookside store is closed today (Tuesday). We will be back open Wednesday through Sunday and our current hours are posted below my signature and we look forward to seeing you!
For those of you who cannot or choose not to shop in our Brookside store right now, we thank you for your continued online shopping support.
And I can't say it enough times -
YOU are an important part of what makes World's Window so special! THANK YOU!
World's Window
"Nobody can define you like you."
P.S.
We are glad to be on this around-the-world virtual journey with you and delighted that you are traveling with us. We hope you are learning some new information as we travel along.
If you haven't already done so, invite some friends to come along! There's still room on this journey!
Send an invite
P.P.S.
We're keeping our trip "log" up to date. If you think you've missed a day or are new to our journey, click
here
to review where we've visited the last 56 days.
CLOSED Monday and Tuesday
OPEN Wed through Sat, 11 am to 5 pm
Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm
As always we are "sharing the world" through clothing, jewelry, folk art, textiles and hand-selected gifts -
and
buying locally-owned is a gift to your community!
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A gift card is always a perfect gift.
We have 2 options for
World's Window gift cards.
In-store gift cards can also be purchased by calling
us at 816-361-2500.
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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