Etching is an old art technique that uses an acid to “bite” away metal and create a certain design. It was first used to decorate metal armor, a process that dates back to Ancient Greece and even Egypt. After a time of being “lost” in the Dark Ages, armor etching was rediscovered in Medieval Europe. It soared in popularity by the 13th century. Customers flocked to exclusive armor etchers in southern Germany and northern Italy, who were revered like today’s famous fashion designers. These skilled artisans made the etchings by coating metal armor in a protective wax. Then they drew the design into the wax with a tool and dipped the armor into a weak acid. The acid “bites” the exposed metal and creates the design.
