decalcomania

[ dih-kal-kuh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh ]

noun

1. the art or process of transferring pictures or designs from specially prepared paper to wood, metal, glass, etc.
2. decal ( defs 1, 2 ).

decalcomania

/ dɪˌkælkəˈmeɪnɪə /

noun

1. the art or process of transferring a design from prepared paper onto another surface, such as china, glass or paper
2. a design so transferred

Word History and Origins

Origin of decalcomania¹

1860–65; < French décalcomanie, equivalent to décalc- (representing décalquer to transfer a tracing of, equivalent to dé- de- + calquer to trace) + -o- -o- + -manie -mania

Word History and Origins

Origin of decalcomania¹

C19: from French décalcomanie, from décalquer to transfer by tracing, from dé- de- + calquer to trace + -manie -mania

Example Sentences

According to Rivera, a favorite technique was decalcomania, in which wet ink or paint is spread on sheets and pressed together; others show off Fini’s drawing prowess.

From New York Times

Some unexpected cases included workers exposed to “freight car seals; coffin ‘trim’; decalcomania papers for pottery decoration; polishing cut glass; brass founding; wrapping cigars in so-called tinfoil, which is really lead.”

From Scientific American

The brightly colored abstract paintings shimmer with layers of paint applied using a variety of complex techniques including decalcomania, in which organic patterns are transferred from paper to canvas.

From Los Angeles Times

Looking upon hands and feet – let alone faces – so distorted by disease that they appear mineralised, I was reminded of Max Ernst's use of decalcomania to create strange and post-human landscapes.

From The Guardian

In 1935 the Spaniard Oscar Dominguez started using decalcomania, which involves spreading ink over a sheet of paper that is then pressed with another sheet.

From New York Times

Related Words

• emblem