4 min readVintage art adds soul to a space. There’s just something about that story and patina that lends itself to more personality for your walls. While oil paintings and tiny art have certainly had their time to shine, there’s another antique art form that’s taking center stage: They’re called reverse glass paintings.
Popular in India in the 18th and 19th centuries, reverse glass paintings are illustrations that have been hand-painted onto the back of glass, giving them a painterly, colorful look. Annalise Holasz, founder of vintage art gallery Hue + Holasz, says that these works have a “really naïve” quality since each is painted by hand, and the “little variations make each one special.”
Holasz also notes that their frames, often made from reclaimed wood, are particularly special, since they provide a charming, aged, and even battered appearance. These artworks can showcase visuals like flowers, plants, Indian princes, boats, and shells, as Holasz says, “but animals are probably the most common,” and include birds, fish, sea creatures, and jungle animals.
To learn more about reverse glass paintings, we tapped the experts, who are sharing what to look for when starting your own collection.
Why Reverse Glass Paintings Are Having a Moment
Alexander Widener, owner of Widener Company, believes that reverse glass paintings are rising in popularity because “they capture the spirit of craft and yesteryear that so many of us are craving in our increasingly digital world.” It also doesn’t hurt that earlier this year, designer Tory Burch gave Vogue a tour of her Paris apartment, where reverse glass paintings were spotlighted in her powder room.
“I think people are drawn to how fun and playful they are,” Holasz says. “There’s often a subject that feels personal, and the combination of vibrant color and a characterful wooden frame appeals.”
Melanie Lissack of Melanie Lissack Interiors believes that reverse glass paintings are trending because they are eclectic, unique, and vintage in style while still having a modern twist.
What to Look for When Buying a Reverse Glass Painting
While current-day pieces can look remarkably similar to the bygone versions, Lissack thinks they just don’t carry the same charm as the antique pieces—as striking as they are. Those in the know don’t look at the artwork first; they look at the frame. For instance, Lissack is on the lookout for slightly worn frames.
Widener points out that if you’re questing after particularly old reverse glass paintings, you should look for bubbles in the glass, a sign that the glass was handblown. This was a standard practice up until the early 20th century.
Also, it can be as simple as buying the motifs you love. For Widener, it’s country scenes and images of animals. He’s also not put off if they don’t have a frame at all.
Where to Shop for Reverse Glass Paintings
“If you aren’t heading to Jaipur anytime soon, then Etsy and eBay are great places to look,” Holasz shares. “Sellers restock weekly. I’d browse quite a few listings before choosing, because the frame can make such a difference. They can sell pretty quicky as they are always in demand though, so it’s worth doing some research to shortlist styles you like so you can move quickly when the right thing comes along.”
If you’re searching for the truly antique varieties (made in the 18th and 19th centuries), Holasz adds that these are likely more available at auctions.
Also, don’t count out flea markets and antique shops for these finds. For reverse glass paintings, according to current eBay listings, you can expect to pay as low as $5 all the way up to $5,000. The prices for these paintings tend to be a steal these days since they’re just starting to have a moment, so snatch them up before the prices rise.
How to Style Reverse Glass Paintings
While you can certainly give the spotlight to a single reverse glass painting, many designers believe these diminutive pieces look best when hung together in small groups.
As for rooms where these works look their best, Holasz thinks they look “really adorable” in children’s rooms, from nurseries to bedrooms to playrooms. They also act as hardy artwork that can be displayed in kitchens and baths, since, as Lissack says, the paintings are “protected by being on the rear side of the glass.”
Also, don’t be afraid to go a bit rogue with these pieces. For example, Holasz likes to mix them into a gallery wall alongside oil paintings, drawings, and sketches, since the different surfaces create visual interest. And you don’t have to hang them on the wall—they also look great leaned on bookshelves.
Widener, who often scores unframed versions, prefers to display them on wire plate hangers.
“When placed in a window, the light comes through in a really beautiful way,” he says.
