Glistening and vibrant, stained glass elicits gasps of wonderment and admiration. Church windows, domes, lamps, decorative items, windowpanes, as well as art panels-- the beauty of stained glass is all around us.
The earliest practitioners of stained glass were Islamic artisans who fashioned bangles in glass worn even today in Eastern nations like Pakistan and India. History records that the earliest expressions in Europe are from the 10th century onwards and are primarily depictions of Christ and biblical themes. From then until now the "art of stained glass" has been practiced and innovated to suit different needs.
Stained Glass Window Decals
How glass is stained was first described in 1100 CE in a work by a German monk who called himself Theophilus. The same technique described by him was used for over 900 years. The golden age of stained glass art was the medieval period, when stained glass adorned many a cathedral in Europe, introducing a sense of "heaven" with light and beauty filtering through the aisles and prayer rooms.
The 19th century saw a renewed interest in the art form and renowned artists introduced many new innovations. Louis Comfort Tiffany was among the first to revolutionize stained glass art by using copper-foil instead of lead, leading to the creation of opalescent glass treasured even today in the form of Tiffany lamps and objets d'art. After World War II the interest declined, to be revived many years later when Abstract Art and the Expressionist movement came into vogue.
The technique involves staining glass by adding certain metals to produce glowing colors. Then, the artist creates images giving depth, shadows, and outlines by painting the glass with metal-oxide-based paints. After which, the painted glass is fired like pottery in a kiln, where the oxide paint fuses permanently into the glass, giving the 'art form" its nomenclature. Artists obtain different effects of light transmission by using glass in different textures: wavy, rippled, pebbled, smooth, hammered, or rough.
Experimenting with colors and shapes, the artisan or craftsperson who works with stained glass has taken the art form from being solely expressions of faith or religious art to art that teases the senses and occupies pride of place in homes, galleries, museum, business centers, convention halls, and even government buildings.
