From the afternoon of May 18 to the morning of May 19, an exhibition dedicated to a special and complex technique of creating porcelain - lithophany - will be on display in the window of the Riga Porcelain Museum, specially arranged for the Museum Night.
What makes lithophany special? With very thin porcelain, most often a plate, which has been cast in such a way that in everyday conditions it may seem like a simple plate, but when properly illuminated, it reveals a secret - there is a relief on its surface, which becomes visible thanks to the light and almost like a shadow theater reveals the hidden images of the artist , scenes and compositions. The lithophany technique is close to the engraving technique, which is very common for creating openwork solutions in porcelain. However, unlike engraving directly on porcelain, lithophany is more complicated, as it involves removing the casting in the material from a previously prepared surface. Given the fragility of porcelain, its tendency to warp when fired, and other technological challenges and obstacles, a high level of craftsmanship and experience is required to achieve a filigree, delicate, and artistically superior result.
During the International Night of Museums, conditions will be created to experience porcelain lithophanes in the Riga Porcelain Museum's window in the Konventa courtyard; they will be particularly impressive in the dark hours of the day! Inspired by the motto of the Night of Museums, we invite you to explore, research and gain an understanding of how delicate, beautiful and special porcelain lithophany is!