<p>With thanks to Chris Meyer from Sector67:  </p>

<p>It's <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithophane" rel="nofollow noreferrer">lithophane</a></strong>. </p>

<p>Sorry I wasn't clever enough to check with the source in the first place, but thanks for asking the question that triggered that!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-08T12:22:25.297Z
I'm glad you found this -- I _have_ a lithophane sitting on my shelf at home, but couldn't remember what it's called, and googling was getting me nowhere. Well done.
Erica
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-08T13:41:13.180Z
Thanks. I was also pretty surprised that googling such a narrow, specific topic with the best words I could throw at it didn't turn up an answer.  Glad to throw a little light on (behind?) this one.
jimw
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-08T16:39:41.410Z
FYI, you can mark your own answer as the correct one by clicking the checkmark :)
user812786
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-08T08:12:53.410Z
2016-12-08T16:31:02.213Z
2016-12-08T16:31:02.213Z
jimw
<p>What is the name of the art form where a translucent material (could be cylindrical) is carved on the inside and lit from within so the image is rendered in brightness determined by how thick the remaining material is?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T11:41:39.117Z
Do you have an image of an example?
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T14:36:41.573Z
You can read on some guidelines and suggestions for these types of questions [here on Meta](http://meta.crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/212/what-guidelines-should-we-set-for-identification-style-questions)
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T15:07:54.760Z
@CreationEdge You think he is describing glass carving?
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T21:22:33.913Z
Sounds sort of like those fancy Halloween pumpkin carvings that don't carve all the way through the pumpkin flesh.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T21:30:38.047Z
Actually @CreationEdge the first thing I though of was those himalayan salt lamps but I don't know if they're ever carved very intricately.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T23:37:59.447Z
Sorry, no images except the mental one of an instance I saw at the Madison hackerspace a year ago.  That one might have been 3D printed.
jimw
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T23:44:01.440Z
The carved and/or edge lit owl image is not what I mean.  The pumpkin reference from @Catija is the right stuff.
I guess I should send a note to the hackerspace - thanks for that inspiration!
jimw
<terminology>
Name of internally lit translucent carved art
jimw
# Name of internally lit translucent carved art

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-07)

What is the name of the art form where a translucent material (could be cylindrical) is carved on the inside and lit from within so the image is rendered in brightness determined by how thick the remaining material is?

**Tags:** terminology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you have an image of an example?  
> **username_2**: You can read on some guidelines and suggestions for these types of questions [here on Meta](http://meta.crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/212/what-guidelines-should-we-set-for-identification-style-questions)  
> **username_2**: @CreationEdge You think he is describing glass carving?  
> **username_1**: Sounds sort of like those fancy Halloween pumpkin carvings that don't carve all the way through the pumpkin flesh.  
> **username_1**: Actually @CreationEdge the first thing I though of was those himalayan salt lamps but I don't know if they're ever carved very intricately.  
> **username_0**: Sorry, no images except the mental one of an instance I saw at the Madison hackerspace a year ago.  That one might have been 3D printed.  
> **username_0**: The carved and/or edge lit owl image is not what I mean.  The pumpkin reference from @username_1 is the right stuff. I guess I should send a note to the hackerspace - thanks for that inspiration!  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2016-12-08. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

With thanks to Chris Meyer from Sector67:

It's **[lithophane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithophane)**.

Sorry I wasn't clever enough to check with the source in the first place, but thanks for asking the question that triggered that!

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I'm glad you found this -- I _have_ a lithophane sitting on my shelf at home, but couldn't remember what it's called, and googling was getting me nowhere. Well done.  
> **username_0**: Thanks. I was also pretty surprised that googling such a narrow, specific topic with the best words I could throw at it didn't turn up an answer.  Glad to throw a little light on (behind?) this one.  
> **username_4**: FYI, you can mark your own answer as the correct one by clicking the checkmark :)  

---

