A Chinese Export reverse glass painting, probably Canton, mid-18th century

During the 18th century Canton was the centre for mirror painting of this type, although the plates themselves were of European manufacture, often French, supplied through the agency of the Compagnie des Indes. The introduction of the technique of painting on imported glass in China is sometimes accredited to the Jesuit missionary Father Castiglione (1688 - 1766), who arrived in Peking in 1715. However, this technique of reverse glass painting mirror plates was already well known in Europe and employed to great effect.

The designs were either painted onto the mirror glass before silvering or traced onto pre-silvered plates so that the mercury backing could be removed prior to decorating. Once clean the plates were applied with a gum and then worked in reverse using a fine wire brush to apply the coloured oils.

The taste for these pieces grew rapidly in Europe, indeed in the 1760s Francis Dashwood, 2nd Bt. had views of his seat West Wycombe Park sent to China to be copied in reverse glass, favouring the eastern technique to that of the European artisans.