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1930s Deltex “Fine Feathers” Reverse Painted Glass Silhouette — Art Deco Lady & Peacock, Brooklyn NY

$32.00 Only one available

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Art Deco (1920s–1930s) Crystal / Glass Very Good
HDRA-VR-0003

A quietly enchanting piece of Depression-era decorative art. This 1930s reverse painted glass silhouette by Deltex Products Co. of Brooklyn, New York depicts a graceful woman in a flowing dress feeding a peacock perched on an ornate stand, all rendered in crisp black silhouette beneath the sweeping canopy of a weeping willow tree.

The scene is painted on the reverse side of the glass — a painstaking technique where the artist works in mirror image, painting the foreground details first and the background last. Behind the glass, a warm, aged cream-and-gold-toned backing gives the composition a luminous depth, as if the figures are caught in amber light. The piece sits in its original dark wood frame with a gold-toned inner border, exactly as it left the Deltex workshop over ninety years ago.

Highlights

  • Maker: Deltex Products Co., Brooklyn, New York
  • Title: "Fine Feathers" (No. 618 Series)
  • Technique: Reverse painting on glass (silhouette)
  • Era: Circa 1933, Art Deco period
  • Materials: Painted glass, original backing paper, original dark wood frame with gold-toned inner rim
  • Dimensions: 5″ W x 5.75″ H (framed)
  • Companion Piece: Designed to pair with "Fine Birds" (sold separately, not included)
  • Back Label: Original label intact — reads "FINE FEATHERS / Drawing by a well known artist and painted on the glass / This design pairs with 'Fine Birds' / No. 618 Series"
  • Hanging Hardware: Original reverse loop for hanging intact on back

Condition

Very good vintage condition for a piece over 90 years old. The glass painting is intact with no chips, cracks, or paint loss visible. The frame shows expected patina and light wear consistent with age — exactly the kind of honest aging that gives a piece like this its character. The original back label is partially worn but still legible; the "Deltex" company name is partially obscured but readable. The backing paper shows age toning. The hanging hardware is intact and functional. A remarkably well-preserved survivor.

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1930s Deltex "Fine Feathers" Reverse Painted Glass Silhouette — Art Deco Lady & Peacock, Brooklyn NY

Circa 1930s

Art Deco Reverse Painted Glass Silhouette

Produced by the Deltex company of Brooklyn, New York, this "Fine Feathers" silhouette captures the glamour of the Art Deco era. The scene depicts a fashionable lady alongside a peacock — a motif that symbolized elegance and artistic sophistication throughout the interwar period. The image was created using reverse painting on glass, a technique where the artist paints on the back surface of the glass so the work is viewed through it, producing a distinctive luminous depth that conventional painting cannot achieve. Deltex was among a handful of Brooklyn manufacturers who made these decorative silhouettes affordable for middle-class American homes during the Depression era, bringing a touch of luxury into everyday life.

Materials Reverse painted glass, original wood frame, silhouette pigments
Care Handle with care — the painted surface on the reverse of the glass is delicate and cannot be restored if scratched. Dust the glass front gently with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid moisture, cleaning sprays, and direct sunlight, which may fade the pigments over time. Keep hung securely to prevent falls.
From the Research Archives
vintagerose.us Catalog No. HDRA-VR-0003 • February 2026

Specifications

Dimensions
5 × 0.75 × 5.75 in
Weight
1.0 lbs
SKU
HDRA-VR-0003

A Silhouette from the Jazz Age

There is a particular stillness to this scene — a woman in a sweeping gown extends her hand toward a proud peacock on its perch, both figures framed by the cascading tendrils of a weeping willow. It is a moment of quiet elegance, frozen in black paint on the back of a pane of glass sometime around 1933, in a workshop in Brooklyn, New York.

This is "Fine Feathers," one of a series of reverse painted glass silhouettes produced by Deltex Products Co. during the early years of the Great Depression. The technique — reverse painting on glass — is exactly what it sounds like: the artist works on the back surface of the glass, painting in mirror image. The foreground details go down first, the background last. It demands precision and a steady hand, because there is no erasing, no painting over.

The result is a scene with a distinctive luminous quality. The black silhouette sits right against the glass surface, crisp and immediate, while the warm cream-and-gold backing paper behind it recedes into soft, ambient depth. Light plays through the unpainted areas of glass, giving the composition an almost theatrical glow — particularly striking when displayed near a window or in a well-lit alcove.

About Deltex Products Co.

Deltex Products Co. operated out of Brooklyn, New York during the early 1930s. Their designs were patented on May 16, 1933. The company produced a range of reverse painted glass silhouettes — romantic couples, domestic vignettes, women with animals, nature scenes — all executed in this distinctive technique and sold through gift shops and novelty stores across the country.

These were accessible works of decorative art during a time when most Americans could not afford fine paintings or prints. At a modest price, you could hang a small piece of hand-painted glass art in your parlor — something with style, something with a touch of the romantic and the theatrical.

The silhouette tradition itself stretches back to the 18th century, but Deltex gave it an Art Deco sensibility: cleaner lines, more dramatic compositions, a sense of movement and modernity beneath the nostalgic subject matter.

"Fine Feathers" was designed as a companion piece to "Fine Birds" — the pair would have been displayed side by side. The back label notes this pairing and identifies the work as No. 618 Series, "drawing by a well known artist and painted on the glass."

Display Notes

At 5 inches wide by 5.75 inches tall, this is a petite piece with outsized presence. The original dark wood frame with its gold-toned inner border gives it a finished, gallery-ready look. The reverse loop hanging hardware on the back is intact and functional. It also stands beautifully on a small easel for tabletop display — on a mantel, bookshelf, or curio cabinet. The warm tones of the backing paper complement candlelight and incandescent lighting particularly well.

Details

  • Maker: Deltex Products Co., Brooklyn, New York
  • Title: "Fine Feathers" (No. 618 Series)
  • Technique: Reverse painting on glass (silhouette)
  • Era: Circa 1933, Art Deco period
  • Materials: Painted glass, original backing paper, original dark wood frame with gold-toned inner rim
  • Dimensions: 5" W x 5.75" H (framed)
  • Companion Piece: Designed to pair with "Fine Birds" (not included)
  • Origin: Brooklyn, New York, USA
  • Patent Date: May 16, 1933

Condition

Very good vintage condition for a piece over 90 years old. The glass painting is intact with no chips, cracks, or paint loss visible. The reverse painted silhouette is crisp and well-defined throughout. The original dark wood frame shows expected patina and light wear consistent with age — the kind of honest aging that gives a piece like this its warmth and character. The gold-toned inner border remains visible and intact. The original back label is partially worn but still legible; the "Deltex" company name is partially obscured but readable. The backing paper shows age toning consistent with its 90+ years. The original reverse loop hanging hardware is intact and functional. A remarkably well-preserved survivor from the Art Deco era, ready for display.

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