Californian Island glass tray

This 1745 map of "California" features two glaringly obvious cartographical errors- that the Baja California peninsula was an island, and that it occupied the entirety of the west coast of North America. This can be blamed on Cortes' discovery expedition in the early 1530s, but was corrected by 1539, when de Ulloa's expedition confirmed the Baja Peninsula was just that. For the next 80 years, maps reflected this correct view. Inexplicably, in 1622, European maps started again showing California as an island, adrift in the Pacific. It took a royal decree by Ferdinand VI of Spain in 1747 — over 100 years later — to set the record straight. Old habits die hard, though, and maps showing California as an island were still being printed as late as 1865.
 
      In the potichomania process, the glass acts as both a foundation and protective finish, saving the step of varnishing. The original intent was to recreate Greek and Etruscan vases by simulating rare and expensive Sevrés porcelain.

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