The Magic of Stained Glass
How is it made?
Stained glass is manufactured from a mix known as soda-lime-silica comprising of sand (silicon dioxide), limestone (calcium carbonate) and sodium carbonate. In medieval times, metallic oxide chemicals were added to the molten mix in order to produce the required colours:
- the addition of copper produced blue and/or green;
- cobalt produced purple-blue;
- chromium produced chrome green or yellow;
- manganese or nickel produced violet;
- lead produced pale yellow;
- red was more difficult to obtain, gold being the usual additive.
Who are some of the most notable craftspeople?
Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933)
Tiffany is one of America's acclaimed artists. Although he was the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany (1812–1902), founder of Tiffany & Company, the fancy goods store that became the renowned jewelry firm, Tiffany chose to pursue his own artistic interests in lieu of joining the family business. His talent knew no bounds he embraced virtually every artistic and decorative medium. He designed and directed his studios to produce leaded-glass windows, mosaics, lighting, glass, pottery, metalwork, enamels, jewelry, and interiors.
His first significant interior design project was for his 1878 top-floor home and studio at the Bella Apartments on 48 East 26th Street in New York City. Tiffany's work included a window screen of eggplants on a trellis.
Evie Hone(1894–1955)
Evie Hone was Irish Cubist painter and stained glass artist. She undertook a number of commissions and left an impressive legacy. Evie Hone's most important works are the Crucifixion and Last Supper windows at Eton Chapel, Windsor (1949-1952) and "My Four Green Fields", now located in Government Buildings.
Michael Foley Photography
Caroline Pregermain
Caroline Pregermain is a talented stained glass artist working out of Paris. She works with interior designers to create doors, wall panels and windows. Her creations combine the quality and purity of a timeless material – that is glass- and the variety that characterizes modern design. She elegantly introduces light and color into the heart of contemporary houses.
Harry Clarke (1889-1931)
Harry Clarke is also a famous Irish stained glass artist. His glass work is characterised by quality craftsmanship and imaginative genius. He crafted pieces depicting elongated figures with finely carved features and deep expressive eyes in deep rich eyes. During his career Clarke created over 160 stained glass windows for commercial and religious commissions in Ireland, England and the United States.
Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Chagall was a French-Russian artist. He was a modernist who did not align himself with any one movement but drew his inspiration from aesthetic elements of Cubism, Fauvism, Symbolism and Surrealism, Jewish folklore, dream-like pastorals and Russian life. Chagall mastered multiple media, including painting in both oil and gouache, watercolor, murals, ceramics, etching, drawing, theater and costume design, and stained-glass work.
Conrad Schmidtt Studios
Conrad Schmidtt Studios are American based craftsmen working to preserve and advance techniques to facilitate the preservation of stained glass. Their expertise extends from new traditional style windows to complement more classically inspired architectural projects to contemporary designs created in geometric, abstract and figural compositions.
Victoria Balva Glass Studio
Artistic Line Studio specialises in art glass projects. The Studio was established by Victoria Balva and Eugene Bakumenko. They work through collaboration and commission with interior designers, architects, cabinet makers, wood carvers, modellers and engineers to complete art glass projects. Studio has extensive experience in stained and leaded glass domes, flat decorative skylights, decorative hangings, windows, doors, wall and room dividers and mosaic murals. Here is a taste of some of their work. It is truly spectacular!
You cannot go past these glass dividers...................
What about the detailed work in this ceiling.......................
The pattern and colour of this window is a fine example of artistic beauty.............
Daniel Maher stained glass
Daniel Maher Stained Glass Studio creates individual pieces by combining traditional techniques and new technologies. The work involves the use of lead and copper foil, sandblasting, etching and glass painting. Art glass is created that captures and bends light with stunning results.
