Digitry Company, Inc.
188 State Street, Suite 21, Portland, Maine 04101
207-774-0300 FAX: 617-484-5220

Preparing the tart	Pâte de Verre Pastry

PÂTE DE VERRE PASTRIES

This is a light and airy "mixed-fruit shortcake" with "powdered sugar".

Ingredients and Equipment
Victory Brown wax, spoon, hotplate, container for melting wax or slow cooker
Wax mold such as plastic deli container
Mixed fruit - strawberries sliced in half lengthwise, mandarin oranges, blueberries
Sharpie
Mold base
2 buckets
Scoop
Plaster
Silica
Water
Scraper, stilts, straight edge for flattening mold base
OSHA-approved mask
Plastic spoons
Plastic gloves
Talc
Bullseye glass 1401 #1; colors #8 (0124, 1125, 1118, 0203)
Small containers for mixes
Spray bottle filled with water
Corn syrup / water solution (1:10)
Cotton swabs (Q-tips)
side-firing kiln

Steps
1. Melt wax and pour into mold to make a "shortcake."
2. Un-mold when cool, add more melted wax on top, then place a mixture of fruit on hot wax.
3. Place all on mold base and draw a line around shortcake 3/4" from base.
4. Put 2 cups water in container, then add plaster and silica, alternating until "islands" form.
5. Let sit about one minute, then stir until mixed and smooth.
6. Pour by small spoonfuls over shortcake until it is covered with a thin, but opaque, layer of plaster/silica.
7. Allow plaster/silica mix to thicken, then build a mold about 3/4" thick over shortcake.
8. Flatten top of mold with straight edge supported by stilts.
9. When mold has hardened, pull out wax shortcake and fruit.
10. Thoroughly mix Bullseye #1 frit with #8 colored powder (approx 3:1). Add water to make a paste, then add a few drops of the corn syrup/water solution.
11. With a small spoon, place color mixes in appropriate areas of mold. Be sure to pack glass mixture tightly. Unwanted glass granules can be cleaned up using a wet cotton swab.
12. Cover with a layer of 1401 #1 and #8 mix (approx 3:1)
13. Place 0203 mix on sides of shortcakes, approx. 1/4" thick.
14. Fill cavity with talc and tamp down.
15. Fire in side-firing kiln.
16. When cool, unmold and rinse under a sharp stream of water with a hose.

Sources:
glass: bullseyeglass.com
wax: www.freemansupply.com
-Temperature Controllers: Digitry Company, Inc. www.digitry.com
mold materials, talc: any ceramic supply store
mask: calsafety.com

Firing Schedule

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