I keep seeing people framing backglasses and presenting them as art, and it makes me wonder..."What is the best looking backglass?"
While I am sure there are many opinions out there...I would like to know what you think is the best (or even a top 5 list)?
For me, the most beautiful backglasses are those whose global design is not only superb, but whose creators have also been inventive and creative. Graphic design is of course important, but it is not enough to make exceptional backglasses.
These are of course double backglasses, those that include mirror-like coatings and that use optical effects, such as infinite reflections.
They are not very widespread and it is normal, because they were the most expensive to produce. To such an extent, moreover, that some were produced only for the American market, the "export" versions having to be content with a simplified model.
For the first three:
➤ MARS - God Of War (Gottlieb)
➤ BLACK HOLE - US version (Gottlieb)
➤ XENON (Bally)
Mars (resized).pngBlack hole (resized).pngXenon (resized).png
And if you only have to pick five, I'll take for the last two:
➤ PAPILLON (Jeutel)
➤ PARAGON (Bally)
Papillon (resized).pngParagon (resized).png
I must admit that it's because I like the heroic fantasy and drawings in the style of Boris Valero - Julie Bell, that I preferred the latter. Because otherwise, I think that FARFALLA (Zaccaria) would have had the fifth place.
Farfalla (resized).png
I like a lot of Gordon Morrison's game artwork. He did most of the artwork on Gottlieb games through the 70s and up to 1980.
I also like the artwork on some of the Atari, zaccaria, and Taito pins, along with some of the fantasy artwork that appeared through the 80s from bally and stern.
Some great artists have done some incredible glasses over the past 70 years, near impossible to pick 5!!
But since you asked:
Wizard - Dave Christensen - several others could be here just as easy, ex: Capt Fantastic Wizard BG (resized).jpg
Paragon - Paul Faris - Will be on most lists with very good reason Paragon BG (resized).jpg
Roy Parker - Kings & Queens - again almost too many other great ones to count K&Q's BG (resized).jpg
John Youssi - Bride of Pinbot - just like it a ton BOP BG (resized).jpg
Keith Parkinson - Viper - Only did 2 but WOW!! Viper BG 2 (resized).jpg
Quoted from dgpinball:Some great artists have done some incredible glasses over the past 70 years, near impossible to pick 5!!
But since you asked:
Wizard - Dave Christensen - several others could be here just as easy, ex: Capt Fantastic [quoted image]
Paragon - Paul Faris - Will be on most lists with very good reason [quoted image]
Roy Parker - Kings & Queens - again almost too many other great ones to count [quoted image]
John Youssi - Bride of Pinbot - just like it a ton [quoted image]
Keith Parkinson - Viper - Only did 2 but WOW!! [quoted image]
You need to replace one of those with Fathom. Probably not Paragon. I'd say the BOP or Kings and Queens...they are both nice backglasses but not top 5 great.
My favorite is Nitro Groundshaker - the more you look the more detail you see and I am a drag racing guy so it has everything I love about it. After that I would pick some of the double backglasses like Volcano, Black Hole, Xenon, etc.
Quoted from Whysnow:AlienStar and Voltan must be in the top 5 of all time![quoted image][quoted image]
I barely missed out on a cheap Alien Star really close to my house about a month ago. Im still depressed...
Quoted from TheLaw:SAme thing as every other thread;
w5 (resized).jpgOk, I may be a little biased since these are in my lineup but my favorites are...
1. Embryon
2. Fireball ll
3. Funhouse
4. Bobby Orr Power Play
99964BCB-8511-477B-B384-E7B713654539 (resized).jpegADAAC029-EFF9-4EAF-A997-FE6EC64BFF97 (resized).jpegA1CB0C20-1DEE-4CFF-BB66-78C10A4E621B (resized).jpegA6F0AE98-9655-4CF1-AA38-A2698F3F0113 (resized).jpegI like Bobby Orr Power Play too, despite the obvious “errors”. Pinside would lose its sh!t if it came out today
Quoted from Coolpinballdino:Zaccaria spooky is beautiful.
Agreed and haunted house as well
Quoted from bonzo442:Agreed and haunted house as well
20181226_165405 (resized).jpgViper
Silverball Mania
Barracora
Quicksilver
Fathom
Spirit
... Notice they are all from the same era when pinball was truly art!?
There's a lot of good ones and as a collector of original artwork I love asking myself these sorts of questions all the time. I like Gordon Morison a lot, and Dave C's stuff is really cool but its just not my era. For my money I like Youssi.
I have collected a few of the original backglass paintings that were made by hand before production. They are really a sight to behold in person so if you are ever in the area when one or more are going to be displayed, take advantage.
Seeing an original is realizing that you were previously looking at something with 1/10 the resolution and color.
I guess you guys have never seen
NEMESIS (peyper) ??
Walkyria?? (Joctronic)??
Valkyrie (jeutel) ??
Iron Balls (stargame) ?
Mephisto (stargame)
And a German company called Geiger did amazing art for their conversion kits!
Check out Miss World!!
Not to mention superman, middle earth
To pick 5 is impossible!! So really it’s better to ask.......what’s everyone’s favourite from each manufacturer?! That might make it easier?!
And nowadays zombie yeti and dirty Donny make beautiful stuff like Primus!!
On second thoughts, no. There’s just too many brilliant backglasses
I’ve attached some pics for everyone to see!
www.pinballowners.com/Athena
On Instagram paragon_pinball
01B6FB65-6658-46A9-B347-C0BF7D68CFA5 (resized).jpeg194F2D9A-8080-43F8-ACBC-4CC8A057ABC9 (resized).jpeg516D7395-86A7-412A-80A6-D1AECF38B203 (resized).jpeg59041EC9-9E5E-449C-87AF-4BFFABF1D1BD (resized).jpegC5F5A780-0AA4-492C-AB2B-452A77CD5975 (resized).jpegFD2F3AD5-2220-4F5D-ABDE-283E94AAE3D3 (resized).jpegWanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.
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