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A Guide To Stained Glass

by Richard Romando

Glasses colored using metallic salts are called stained glasses. Once they were used almost exclusively to decorate church windows, but there has been a revival of interest in the ancient art of stained glass in recent times. Today, stained glass plays an important role in many architectural designs.

The art of making stained glass is believed to have originated during the Roman era. This art form attained its height during the middle ages. Among the noted contributors to this art form are William Morris (1834-1898), John La Farge (1835-1910), Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898), and Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933). Louis Comfort Tiffany used stained glass extensively for the interior decoration of buildings in the 19th century. Glass designers of the early period used only a few colors. Today stained glasses come in thousands of colors, shades, and themes.

There are many steps involved in the making of stained glass. The first step is selecting glass that suits the color and pattern in mind. A designer then draws a full size pattern in the studio once the glass is chosen. The colored glass pieces are cut into different shapes with a glasscutter and the edges are ground using a glass grinder. Leading the glass pieces is the next step. After completing the leading process, the glass pieces are soldered at the joints. Then they are ready for installation.

Stained glass is used in almost all traditional church buildings, as well as in office buildings, shopping centers, international airports, hotels, and bars. Private houses also decorate their bathrooms, stairwells, kitchens, and conservatories with stained glass. Stained glass can also be used as internal screens.

Experienced craftspeople with great creative skill and good engineering knowledge are required to design and assemble the glass pieces. A number of academic institutions have programs that teach this traditional art. Florida State University's Master Craftsman Program is one such popular program teaching stained glass technology.

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