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How did diamond-point engraving decorate Venetian cristallo glass?

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fish of core-made glass — glassware Fish of core-made glass with “combed” decoration, Egyptian, New Kingdom, 18th dynasty (c. 1363–46 bc). In the British Museum. 0.141 m × .069 m.

Diamond-point engraving was a technique applied to cristallo—a clear, colourless glass developed in Venice—beginning around 1530. Because cristallo was ductile and of high quality, it was particularly well-suited for this method of ornamentation.12

The process involved using a diamond point to scratch the surface of the glass, which produced spidery, opaque lines. This technique was especially effective for creating delicate, intricate designs. While early applications of the craft were often formal and linear, it became a significant decorative art form that allowed for detailed artistic expression, including scrollwork, coats of arms, and eventually more supple, complex imagery.1