Traditionally Stained Glass was made by including additives during the melting process. This is the technique that most people will recognise from the many beautiful stained glass windows in Churches, Mosques and other ancient architecture.
These days there are a few different techniques commonly used to produce an array of stained glass art.
Stained Glass (also called leaded lights)
Sheets of coloured glass are cut into smaller pieces and put together using ‘H’ profile lead, the joints between leads are soldered together and the finished piece is then puttied up to make it solid and waterproof. Perfect to create designs for windows, doors etc.
There is a vast choice of both colour and texture available in glass.
Leaded lights are usually simple forms of the same, usually rectangles or diamonds using plain or coloured glass.
Copper Foil (Tiffany Style)
Pieces of glass are cut and then the edges wrapped with an adhesive copper foil tape, then they are soldered together to create very finely detailed windows. A much more delicate effect is made compared to lead work. Suitable for smaller windows.
Fired Painted Glass
Very finely ground glass mixed with a medium so that it can be applied with a brush onto sheet glass. After painting the glass is then fired in a kiln up to temperatures of around 600 degrees. A matt coat is then applied, allowed to dry and then scratched or scrubbed back to allow light through and create shading where needed and then fired again. A third firing is required for any added colour. The finished piece or pieces are inserted into a design using either lead or copper foil.
Sandblasted Glass
Clear or coloured glass is sandblasted to give an opaque effect. Where a resist is used it creates a clear effect on an opaque background (or vice versa). Very suitable for putting house numbers on door fanlight windows or as an alternative decoration in a stained glass panel.