This simple process was, no doubt, employed anterior to engraving by the lathe; to this it probably gave way, as the accurate artistic effects of the lathe far surpass the crude work of steel or diamond etching. Etching by fluoric acid has been introduced, but its bite is not sufficiently rough, and is not found effective for general purposes. Pleasing effects are produced by engraving through an outer casing of coloured Glass, usually afterwards decorated with gold, and painted in arabesques, or other patterns. This work is chiefly the produce of Bohemia, Bavaria, and France; it has recently been executed at the Falcon Glass Works with success, in engraved classical designs.

Stoppering is usually done within Flint Glass premises. The lathe is similar to that employed by Glass engravers, being what is termed a mandril tool. The mouths of the bottles are opened by a steel projecting cone, or mandril, to the required size to suit the stopper; and emery powder and water being applied, the rotating friction soon effects its object. The stopper must be fixed in a wooden chuck, and rotated by the lathe, to be first reduced to the dimensions of the mouth of the bottle, by emery and water; and finally introduced into it, carefully grinding the one into the other, reducing the speed, and supplying by degrees finer and finer emery (and water), until the stoppering by the lathe is completed; a few turns of the stopper with the hand follow to finish.