Stained Glass

Stained glass, also known as art glass, is a medium of creativity that probably evolved from creating mosaics or cloisonné. It follows the concept of a piece surrounded with material that binds to another. In mosaics, the piece is tile, and in jewelry, the piece is a precious stone. Early stained glass artisans began with making the glass. When color needed to be in the glass, additional substances, like metallic salts and oxides, were combined with the molten sand. While cooling, the liquid spread over a flat surface and acquired the desired thickness. Fortunately, modern stained glass crafters purchase manufactured glass.

After choosing a pattern, mark the glass with a marking pen. Some use templates to verify proper fitting of the pieces. A glass cutter and running pliers breaks the piece from the larger glass pane. Smooth the edges with a glass grinder. There is some leeway because once the glass is cut it goes into a lead channel called cames or gets wrapped with copper foil. The lead came usually makes a heavier and larger piece. Being thin and more flexible, the copper foil, works better for intricate or detailed images. Adjustments to fitting the pieces together become part of the artwork with the soldering.

After soldering the pieces together, wrap the image in a zinc frame. This gives stability. Extra zinc may be needed when encountering a connection adjustment or dealing with mitre corners. Finish the piece with rinsing to remove excess material. After cleaning and polishing, the piece brightens its location.