Our four French fashion prints presented behind exuberant églomisé glass are undoubtedly from the last half of the 19th century. Églomisé, the French term referring to the process of applying a design to the rear face of glass, goes back centuries in Europe and appears in ancient artifacts as well. The term was usually reserved for the technique of silvering or gilding to create mirrors; but it came to describe all kinds of reverse glass painting for a range of decorated items such as reliquaries, portable altars, jewelry, and glass picture frames such as our examples. The Classically inspired églomisé silvered laurel wreaths surrounding our fashion images - echoed by the small metal hangers - and the prominent use of “Nile-green” popularized in the middle decades of the 19th century – point to the Second French Empire during the reign of Napoleon III. Our set of four may have been part of a larger group or selected at a buyer’s request. Condition: Excellent with minor discoloration. Occasional splitting of the paper backing. Dimensions: Each 5.75" x 5.75".