Glass stained glass windows created in a traditional manner appeared earlier than all others. The initial technologies developed in the ancient Sumer and inherited by the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans, after the fall of these empires for a long time were lost, and were revived in Western Europe only by the twentieth century. Since then, medieval stained-glass windows have decorated exclusively temples and palaces of large nobles - since there were very roads and labor crops. More than 70% of their plots accounted for religious topics, and only the remaining 30% - on all other. As the basis, medieval stained glass windows used a powerful metal frame, and the individual elements were combined with each other by the spike, copper, copper or brass bands.

Only by the twentieth century, the situation has changed radically. The basic principles of creating stained-glass windows remained the same, but innovative production technologies and especially glass processing opened before the stained glass masters unprecedented horizons.

Modern stained glass manufacturing process in historical style

Currently, stained glass windows in the medieval style are manufactured according to the following scheme.

  1. Sketch. In recent decades, it is drawn on a computer in specialized graphics editors. Software makes it possible to predict in advance what will reflect the light depending on the characteristics and placement of each element.
  2. Profile. It is manufactured under the desired size. As a rule, made metal - given the considerable weight of the design.
  3. Bevels. This is the name of individual elements, each of which is cut on the machine with a laser. Thus, the ancient procedure for treating individual glasses has become not only more accurate and perfect, but also thousands of times faster, which allowed to radically reduce the total cost of finished products.
  4. Soldering. At the end stage, when using the most progressive technologies for today - "Tiffany" - the metal foil between the elements is soldered, the surplus is neatly removed, and the seam is cleaned. As a result, the bevels form a single pattern with absolutely imperceptible joints, and the stained glass makes its final appearance.
  5. Painted. The exceptions are cases in which the pattern for becomes excessive, since it requires introducing very small elements into a product. In order not to disturb the classical technology, instead of inserts, larger bevels are painted with special colors, after which one or another fragment seems a combination of several small.
  6. Sections. If the stained glass windows in the historical style provided for by the project reaches the size of more than 1-2 m 2, ensuring their reliability is achieved by dividing on the section, for each of which a separate profile is prepared.

Areas of use

The main areas of applying medieval stained glass windows are:

  • - hide dull landscapes outside and paint the amazing light of the room inside;
  • - suspended medieval stained glass windows visually expanding the room and makes it much more festive;
  • - add to any interior composition an incredibly fresh and bright accent;
  • - not only successfully separate the room into individual zones, but also create the effect of additional space (especially if stained-glass windows are something like a light picture);
  • - are much more expressive elements of facades than ordinary glass with color patterns);
  • - Most spectacular look in dark and gloomy rooms, illuminating them with soft scattered light;
  • - Ideal Plafones and night lamps for bedrooms.

The main advantages of medieval stained glass windows

Like all other works of art of this species, historical options are different:

  • almost infinite service life without deteriorating physico-technical characteristics and loss of operational qualities;
  • the uniqueness of the drawing is - since this is a piece, and in Tiffany technique, they are collected almost completely manually;
  • the unique way of dispersion of light.

Installation, backlighting and stained glass service in the interior

  1. Installation. Medieval stained glass style in finished form are mounted almost similar to window frames. The difference consists only in the presence of a more powerful P-shaped, n-shaped or more complex profile configuration with a high degree of rigidity.
  2. Illumination. It is her that the role of maximum underscores all the advantages of the design of stained glass is given. Modern stained glass windows with historical style to optimally illuminate LED or halogen lamps of daylight. It is extremely important and correctly accommodated from the back side of the stained panel.
  3. Care. The most simple as possible, since the glass is afraid of only shock and strong abrasive effects. Periodically wipe the stained-glass windows with wet microfibrous rags or sponges will be enough. Strong pollution is removed in the same way, but using soft detergents without abrasive particles.

What makes the cost

The final cost of the stained-glass you ordered will affect:

  • product dimensions and their number (with wholesale orders);
  • number, dimensions and configuration of parts required for assembly;
  • glass texture;
  • manufacturer of materials;
  • types of metal for soldering;
  • mounting complexity;
  • the presence of additional wishes from the client, increasing the complexity of the work;
  • the need to set the backlight.

Medieval stained glass windows from "Glass Diligence"

Masters of "Glass Diligence" in the most advanced technique "Tiffany". View options - in our photo gallery.

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The word "stained glass" occurred from French Vitre (window glass).

Stained glass windows in Europe during the early Middle Ages

Stained glass predecessors are thin transparent plates from selenite or alabaster, which inserted into the windows of Christian temples of the 5-6th century. They were multicolored, and various ornaments were created from these materials.

In the 6-7 century, together with the development of Christianity in Europe, transparent and colorless glasses began to appear. Prior to that, glass was opaque (for example, opaque glass was widely used in Egypt).

The stained-glass windows were attached to Catholic Cathedrals and Churches. They created an unearthly, elevated atmosphere in the church and contributed to the distraction of parishioners from the worldly. In the early 20th century 3 fragments of the stained glass window depicting Jesus Christ were found. Approximately, these fragments were made in 540. In German Alsace, in Weissemburg Abbey is kept the most ancient stained glass windows depicting the head of Christ. Another vintage stained glass window can be seen in the UK, in the Monastery of St. Paul. He was made in 686. From the finished stained glass windows are the oldest in the Augsburg Cathedral. In their manufacture, the technique of painting and tone stencils was used.

The emergence of traditional stained glass manufacturing technology

In the 11th century, classical technique of stained glass production took shape. In 1100, the Monk Theofil outlined it in his treatise. Many of the operations of this technology are preserved today. First, the masters cooked colored glass. They mixed river sand, flux, lime and potash. The glass itself was cooked in a spherical furnace, and pots from ceramics used as crucible. Oxides of metals were added to the molten glass, of which paints were made. The range of colors was quite small, and the glass itself had a lot of flaws: darkens, inhomogeneity of color, bubbles. Because of these flaws, the stained glass of Middle Ages create a completely extraordinary atmosphere due to the game of light.

In the Middle Ages, one stained glass window could consist of hundreds of pieces of multicolored glass. These pieces were fastened with lead strips in the form of the letter "N". In the churches there were very high windows: from 6 to 18 meters. In order for such windows more durable, they were divided into the panel, each square in several square decimeters. These panels were attached to a metal grid, which was installed outside.

Colored stained glass in the romance period

In the romance period in architecture there were many elements with stained glass windows. First of all, it was stained glass windows in the cathedrals, adorning high windows that were made as because of the thick walls. The main colors of stained glass were blue and red. From the patterns most often used geometric shapes or plant topics. Then the themes became more difficult and more diverse, we could still see people in stained glass drawings. Most often it was the scenes from the Bible or the life of the saints. Very often in churches you can see the composition of the windows depicting the Holy Trinity. In the 13th century, "Arabian windows" began to appear - they were inserted into marble or stone in them.

In the abbey of Saint-Denis, for the first time, not only the images of the Virgin Mary, Christ, Saints, but also test descriptions of their lives and acts were included in the stained-glass panel.

Not only in Europe, but also in the east in the Middle Ages they made stained glass windows. They were collected from pieces of colored glass, fastening individual pieces between themselves solutions. Among them was a cement solution.

Products from pieces of glass in the Renaissance Epoch

An artistic style of stained glass has changed in the revival era: now it was three-dimensional paintings with the transmission of volume. Not only religious themes, but also secular, as well as mythological ones were prevailed. Stained glass windows were created on the dream of pictures of famous painters. In the 16th century, the cabinet stained glass windows, which were small in size and served as decoration for the room.

In Russia, stained glass began to produce much later than in Europe. First, stained glass windows, as in European countries, were installed in the temples. Later they began to be used to decorate the houses of wealthy people.

At the end of the 19th century, two stained glass masters, John La Farge and Luis Tiffany began to use new technologies to create inhomogeneous glass. There are many options for modern stained glass: it can be transparent and deaf, glass can be both one color and a mixture of different colors and shades of color, it can be smooth and with different textures.

In Russia, stained glass windows were not widespread, because this product is not cheap.

The desire to decorate their house with stained-glass windows, with their high cost and inaccessibility to many people, led to the appearance of various

The technique of creating an image from colored glass knew morein ancient Babylon, Egypt, Greece and Rome. But genuine heyday, this art reached only in the Middle Ages. Admit someone from you, to find out inside the Gothic Cathedral, did not shy in admiration, looking at the beautiful, as if soaring in the sunlight, stained glass windows?

What is the uniqueness of stained glass?

Why, in the era of Gothic, the art of stained glass (from lat. Vitrum and Fr. Vitre - glass, monumental work of decorative art of colored glass) reached incredible heights? Notice, it has not seen such a swing, none after.

Probably, one of the main causes of the heyday of the stained-glass window is associated with architectural innovations: in the era of Gothic, the new designs of overlaps and external supports allowed the temple to grow up and ease the heavyweight walls.

So there was a space for huge windows-stained glass windows, practically completely crowded in the romance time wall painting.

Source: Pixabay.com.

There are other reasons. In the Middle Ages, the stained glass included in the architectural and artistic association of the arts, which fully embodied in the space of the cathedral, received a cult value. So, the stained glass stops to be just a utilitarian and decorative subject, but rose to the level of the symbol, denoting the divine light, flowing out of the abode of the Lord. In the Middle Ages, stained-glass windwires were compared with jewelry and believed that they would save from monstrous misfortunes, for example, it was believed that with the help of stained glass windows you can protect against the deadly look of Vasilisk.

Where to look for master's stained glass windows?

Gothic style historically arose in France, and the first building in the new style is the Basilica of Abbey Saint Denis. The first gothic stained glass windows appeared there. The images placed in the medallions were deprived of the monumentality of the Romanesque style and quickly won popularity among contemporaries. From France, the gothic style spread through England and Germany. Cathedrals were erected everywhere: Notre Dame de Paris, Canterbury and Bourges, Cathedral in Sanas and Reims, Salisbury, York and Lincoln.

Genuine pearl of stained glass art is considered to be Saint Chapel (Paris), a two-story chapel, which consisting of colored glasses, between which the walls are not visible at all.

Oddly enough, in the windows of Gothic Cathedrals, you can see not only religious stories, but also historical events or everyday occupations of people: work of artisans and farmers, hunting, peers, knight battles. There are also images at all fiction creatures - dragons and unicorns.

Source: Pixabay.com.

Do you know that Gothic stained glass windows, along with a book miniature, are the painting of the era? You will probably think what kind of painting here? The stained glass window was made up of pieces of stained glass and was more like a mosaic. And yet it is. Let us turn to the technique of its creation, which since the time of the monk theophile, who wrote in the XII century the first guide for stitches, is considered classic.

How was the stained glass window in the Gothic Epoch?

The basis for the manufacture of stained glass is a preliminary sketch, written on a wooden board, first zinc or tin, and then red or black paint. It was translated into a colorless glass, and then the image itself was folded from sliced \u200b\u200bpieces of colored glass, which fastened with lead jumpers and soldered around the edges. The glass was stained with colorful powders - pigments, which were added to the molten mass. And let in the XII and XIII centuries there were not so many (red, green, blue, purple), they could be combined and put on each other, receiving unique shades.

For example, it is known that in the Chartres Cathedral, some stained-glass windows are obtained by overlaying up to twenty-seven glasses, both non-colored and colorless. The drawing, however, was compiled not only by adding colored glass pieces, but also wrote with a brush in those places where it was necessary to portray small details.

When you spent the paint line on the clothes, then the sickness of their tassel is sewn, so that the glass is transparent where you are used in painting to see the light. Let the same line be first fat, then thinner and, finally, completely fine. Tones are changing as if it is three different colors

The art of the middle ages of middle ages gave such masterpieces as "Holy Jerome" Albrecht Dürer,
"The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin" El Greco,
"Mother of God with a baby" (Stained glass window of the Cathedral in Chartres)

Middle Ages Stained Art: Technology Features

The art of stained glass still worries the imagination of people. Stained glass windows of gothic temples still attract views with their openwork windows, which are sublime shining in the rays of sunny color and mysteriously flicker in the twilight. A wonderful game of colored glasses creates a special atmosphere in the interior, causing people of the thrift emotions and the feeling of communication with the unearthly world. Moving glare on a translucent multi-colored surface give the glass to the glass. Probably, therefore, the works of stained glass art are so attractive for a person, and they left the Middle Ages in contemporaries, with their mystical perception of reality, especially a vivid impression.

How did the stained-glass windows in the Middle Ages?

The design of window openings Panels from non-ferrous glass was known in ancient Rome and Eastern countries. But only in medieval times, the production of stained glass turned into art associated with religious architecture. In the era of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the art of stained glass gained rapid development. Its real flourishing began with the XII century. In the treatise of the monk of theophile relating to the time in detail describes the technology of manufacturing a stained glass window. The glass was cooked in a special oven, at the same time painting it in the desired color. A flat sheet was cast from glass, which was then cut on curly plates according to the prepared figure. For separation into fragments, a hot iron rod was used. The pieces of glass were folded on a wooden board according to the sketch of the future panel and then painted with paints, consistently burning the stained glass cloth in the oven. Elements of the future stained glass firmly fastened with lead wire, saving the seams. After that, the product details were placed in a wooden, and later - a metal frame. So got a stained glass window.

The medieval method of manufacturing the stained glass window from modern methods is slightly different. The main difference is in a more perfect toolkit.

The stained glass windows of the Middle Ages had their own characteristics - glass defects in the form of uneven thickness, jergis, roughness. Inside the glass fragments remained gravy sand, air bubbles. Such errors of medieval glasses only strengthened the color game, refracting the falling light. Skillful stained-friendly masters skillfully used these imperfections of glass and sought in their creations the amazing texture of the paints.

In the early medieval, stained glass windows were collected from glasses painted in saturated, clean colors. Most often used yellow, white, purple, red, green colors and their shades. To obtain a wider range of tones, stained glass masters used multilayer glass, overlapping on each other plates of different colors. Separate portions of the upper layer were calculated so that the bottom layer of stained glass appears. For example, some They have sections from 27 layers of red and colorless glass! Passing through such a thickness of layered glass, light acquires unique color nuances. No wonder the window stained glass windows of gothic temples at one time were compared with jewelry decorations.

Stained glass windows in the Middle Ages as the Starting Stage of Art Development

The first precedent of architectural gothic, reflecting the mystical philosophy of stained glass, was the church of Saint-Denis. Her construction was completed in 1144. At the request of Abbot Suggeria, the monastery's abbot, the walls of the temple were made translucent - they were replaced by huge stained glass windows. Light with a wide stream penetrated the inside of the temple and caused a sense of incredible triumph. Suggeria paid much attention to the images on stained glass windows, since their contemplation was for him by the way to spiritual self-improvement, the exhaust from the fuss of terrestrial and attachment to intangible spheres. In the XII century, this innovation in the design of temples has become very relevant and gained particular development in the last third of century. It was a period of active construction of temples in France and neighboring Catholic countries. Thus received the beginning .

Since ancient times, people have attributed magic power to stained-glass windows. In medieval legends there are descriptions of stained glass windows as one of the forms of protection against deadly view of Vasilisk.

The development of glassmodes and the expansion of the range of paints for painting on glass led at the beginning of the XIV century to significant changes in the technology of medieval stained glass art. In the works of masters-stainwoods XV century, a noticeable preference is given to colorless glasses covered with polychromic painting. Stained glass of the Renaissance is a wonderful picture on the glass with a skillful solution to the problem of perspective, with a volume and realistic image.

The stained glass window in the Renaissance era has become the decoration of not only temples and churches, but also the secular structures - the palaces of known, urban counters. Until the XVI century, due to increasingness and high-cost glass, stained glass windows in residential buildings were used very rarely. With the distribution of the lunar method of manufacturing flat glass in the XVI century, the situation has changed. This term characterizes the following process. The master glass formation formed a ball, flattening him and attached the axis for the bottom of the workpiece. The rotation achieved a natural change in the form, as a result, a 2-3mm thick disk was obtained (due to the similarity of the disc with the celestial night luminaries, the method was called "lunar"), while the diameter of the product could reach 1.5m. Annealing attached him to high strength, and the quality of the material obtained was high enough to use it in stained glass art. The Middle Ages were marked by a breakthrough not only in the technological side of the production of glass, but also in the economic. Stained glass has become available to wider masses due to the cheapening of the consumable material - glass.

In many European countries, there are small stained glass panels, suspended in front of the windows of houses. They were called cabinet stained glass and mainly depicted coat of arms or any important events from the life of the hosts. Such stained glass windows got the greatest distribution in Germany, England, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Also known to many masterpieces of the Middle Ages.

Technological innovations and inventions of the Middle Ages not only became a prerequisite for the design of a stained-large business as an independent branch of art. This long period in a whole thousand years (from V to XV) has given the opportunity to identify new forms of wonderful, to pay closer attention to natural materials and invoices and actively use them in creativity. Most It was precisely in that era and in the future only some improvements were undergoing. It was the time of amazing discoveries and the deep knowledge of all arts spheres, including stained glass.

The word "stained-glass window" is translated from Latin as "glass". It is considered one of the most sophisticated and special types of art rich in its history and equipment techniques. A brief history of the emergence of the stained glass will be told the reader in the article.

Backgrounds of stained glass appearance

Teachers, telling the stained glass story for children in the lessons, begin with the root causes of his occurrence. The appearance of the first civilizations is associated with a multitude of discoveries. It was then that began to extract glass. Over time, learned to make it color and use to decorate various objects. In each culture were their features of the use of such glass:

  • Sumerians decorated the roofs of their temples.
  • The Egyptians wrapped the glass of the spiral and made colored blood vessels from it.
  • The Romans and the Greeks were specialists in making ancient VAZ and cups with decorative carvings and a variety of decorations.

All these discoveries are dated the beginning of the second millennium BC. Only after another thousand years, the Syrians learned to blow the glass than and gave the beginning of the history of the development of stained glass.

The appearance of the first stained glass windows

In history, the appearance of stained glass is not marked by the exact date. But it is known that in the Christian era, for the first time began to use stained glass for the manufacture of non-hard pictures. It was attached to the boards with the help of smear on the board or and with the advent of the first temples, the Byzantine stained glass was obtained. The laudatory poems and descriptions of glass compositions were popular at the poets of the fourth century. In those days, the stained glass gave divine importance, and the light passing through them was compared with the Holy Spirit.

History of development

Unfortunately, before our epoch and did not reach the stained glass over the tenth century as a whole. They can be judged by the remaining fragments and poets. But in the future, this type of art was widely developed and spread throughout countries. Let us consider in more detail the story of the origin of stained glass windows, the change of styles and technology in every era.

Romanesque stained glass

The history of the appearance of stained glass tells that Romanesque emergence in the eleventh century and were relevant to the whole century. It was they who became the first classic stained glass windows, in which the picture was made of pieces of stained glass and a metal profile.

Features of Romanesque Stained glass windows:

  • all of them could not allow them because of high cost, since the melting technique and blowing glass was very complex and time-consuming;
  • there were separate wizards on the billets of thin sheets of glass and specialists in direct preparation of paintings, which increased the quality of romance stained glass windows;
  • for the manufacture of one panel, more than a hundred different pieces left, each of which had its shape and color;
  • the stages of this era are characteristic of such defects as the presence of bubbles, irregularities, scuffs, but this does not spoil their appearance, but makes them special and in their own way.

Romanesque stained glass production technique:

  • for a start, the master took a wooden surface and planted the drawing of his future masterpiece;
  • then whiskers were chosen to each element of the picture (in shape and size);
  • on the right fragments they applied paintings with natural paint, after them were burned in the furnace to secure the drawing;
  • drawing up a mosaic to a whole image occurred using narrow bindings from lead;
  • since the windows in those times were large (about six meters), then for greater strength and stability, one large composition was made of several panels smaller.

Masterpieces of the Romanesque era:

  • head of Christ from Weissemburg Abbey Alsace;
  • composition of four Old Testament prophets in the Augsburg Cathedral;
  • "Ascension of Christ" in the Augsburg Council;
  • "Crucifixion and Sunday" at the Cathedral windows in Poitiers;
  • three stained glass windows of the Holy Trinity in the Cathedral in Chartra.

Gothic stitches

The history of stained glass (Gothic) originates in 1144. Abbot Sergius during the construction of the church in Saint-Denis filled the windows with several vertical medallions. The main difference from the Romance style in this composition was that an important point of history was revealed in each medallion.

Features of gothic stained glass windows:

  • in the cathedrals began to increase the number of windows for their design in the Gothic style;
  • such architecture quickly gained popularity and gained its development in England and France;
  • the stained glass windows gave the temple of the gloom associated with evil, and at the same time the Great spirituality concluded in a large number of light; Such a relation became ideal and carried a mystical significance;
  • over time, the saturated colors of red and blue gradually replaced with more light, so that the inside passed as much as possible;
  • changed and types of window openings;
  • in France, the new clarification technique was invented - Griezail, the essence of which was that the lungs, radiant stained glass windows were placed in dark bulky rooms, inputs in them lighting; Over time, the number of this style techniques has become even more.

The most famous stained glass windows made in the classic Gothic style are in the Cathedral in Chartres. It is in it that it is easy to track the harmony between the majestic windows, the gloomy architecture and the inner concept of the premises. The flow of a large number of rays into darkness and darkness gives a stunning and fascinating effect - in this and there is all the charm of Gothic. Also in this cathedral there was its own feature, which in the future spread throughout the world - these are windows according to the scheme in them are represented by the life of the Virgin. And in the windows - sockets depicts Christ and Virgin Mary.

Stained glass windows Renaissance

A new wave in culture, including architectural, provoked such terrible events such as war and epidemic of plague. Already by the fifteenth century, people stopped putting the church in the first place and switched to a secular lifestyle. It greatly affected the further development of stained glass windows.

Features of the stained glass windows of the Renaissance:

  • there are many more advanced techniques for working with glass;
  • it was absolutely an invention of silver hydraulic, which significantly increased the level of the pictures created;
  • the colors began to apply directly on the glass, it made it possible to obtain many unusual shades;
  • images look more voluminous and bright;
  • France and Italy are the main centers for the manufacture of stained glass windows;
  • medallions entered, no more than thirty centimeters, they became symbols of this era.

Examples of renaissant stained glass windows:

  • windows of the Florentine Cathedral, created by Italian masters;
  • monastery windows in Koenigsfelden;
  • stained glass windows in the chapel insier in Ulm Minster.

Stained glass windows high Renaissance

Before the sixteenth century, the Masters made stained glass in the classic scheme, until such masters appeared as Rafael, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo. It was they who had a great influence on world culture, including on the history of the art of stained glass in Russia.

Features of high renaissance stained glass windows:

  • since most stained glass masters were Italians, they became authors of new trends;
  • the art of this epoch combined realism, elements of European decoration and bulky forms;
  • received a new technique made it more transparent and clean;
  • in addition to silver, invented red drevillers;
  • the masters began to give preference to the color decision, and not distorting the forms and sensuality of the image;
  • operactions in the windows expanded even more and achieved gigantic sizes.

An example of stained glass windows of the high Renaissance:

  • "Tree of Jessey" in Beauvais;
  • huge windows of the Brussels Cathedral;
  • "Exile of orodore from the temple" in the cathedral in Gouda.

The sixteenth century is considered the last in hot stained glass in the Middle Ages. Next, glasses manufacturing technology and painting paintings began to progress very quickly. The twentieth century had a great influence on the methods of stained glass design.

The history of the emergence of stained glass in Russia

Russian stained glass windows did not exist until the nineteenth century. Only secured people could enjoy the masterpieces brought from abroad. The thing is that domestic temples and cathedrals did not provide for stained glass windows, and the culture as a whole did not need such a form of art. They appeared and immediately gained popularity thanks to the works of European masters.

Stained-in history in Russia:

  • XVII century - the first appearance of stained glass windows;
  • XVIII century - stagnation in development due to unprofitability;
  • the beginning of the XIX century - gradual penetration of paintings made of non-ferrous glass, in Russian culture;
  • middle of the XIX century - active use of stained glass windows; The emperor and other wealthy people adopted European fashion and began to apply them to decorate their places; Then stained glass windows appeared in churches;
  • the end of the XIX century - built a lot of workshops on artistic skills, as well as classes of painting and school;
  • the first half of the 20th century - stained glass began on the decline due to the extrasion of modern, and later because of the start of World War II;
  • the middle of the XX century is the revival of stained-glass windows by Soviet culture, there were unique works that differ from the previous paintings by their originality and ambiguity.

Famous Russian stained glass windows:

  • decoration of stained glass windows of the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky;
  • chapel in the royal village;
  • Russian Geographical Society in St. Petersburg;
  • "Ascension of Christ" in St. Isaac's Cathedral.

Stained glass: history and modernity

Examined in detail the historical side of the development of stained glass species in different epochs, I wanted to turn to modern art. Stained glass windows exist in order to give the room and a special chic. Many glass manufacturing techniques, design and fashion development has become key moments of the emergence of new types of this art.

Modern types of stained glass windows:

  • Sandblasting stained glass windows - a glass composition made in sandblasting techniques and connected by one common subject. Compiled on a whole surface, most often in one color.
  • Mosaic stained glass - consists of particles of about one size resembling a mosaic. May be background or primary image.
  • A set of stained glass window - a drawing created from separate pieces of glass of the desired shape and color, usually without any additions.
  • Fusing - glass, of which the composition is collected, sintered with each other in the intended position. Even this type includes the subordination of individual foreign elements in the finished image.
  • Flusted stained glass - consists of glass with an indispensable image with an indisted circuit. Each item is flooded with special colors or varnish.
  • The etched stained glass window is a set of glasses made using the technique of etching and interconnected with a single meaning.
  • Welcome stained glass - composed of colored glasses fixed in lead rim and sealed in joints. The most ancient technique that has come back from the Middle Ages.
  • Facial stained glass windows - when they are assembling, glasses are used, from which the faces have previously removed. Another option is the use of polished and polished glasses.
  • Combined stained glass windows - compositions that simultaneously include several types of stained glass windows. Such a reception helps to achieve stunning results, draw up truly original masterpieces.

Stained glass Tiffany

Lewis Tiffany became the founder of its own style and technique of creating stained glass windows, which have become popular around the world. He worked for a very long time on the selection of materials, and most importantly - above the methods of fastening glass, since the medieval methods did not suit him at all. What happened in the result of these works, completely eclipsed with wrench stained glass windows. So the fact that this technique differs from others and why in history stained-glass windows Tiffany is considered among the most prestigious, consider in more detail.

Tiffany style features:

  1. Color. Brightness has always been a very important criterion for Lewis Tiffany when working with stained-glass windows. He tried to achieve as much saturation and originality as possible in the color scheme used. Sometimes the master mixed tones, and sometimes put one (or even a few) glass from above the other.
  2. Material. Quality - this is what is a mandatory distinctive sign of stained glass data. Before starting the composition of stained glass windows, it has always been a strict check, they must be without the slightest defects and the same texture.
  3. Realistic. The works of the masters were so perfect, complex, full of details and paints, which they were often compared with painting.
  4. Technology. The connection of glasses among themselves occurred by means of copper tape. Since it was wider than the glass itself, then the tape was bent along the edge, at an angle of ninety degrees. The finished elements were combined with a tin and a patina applied.
  5. High price. Such works are very expensive, and they can only find them in private collections, English and American cathedrals and museums.

Shortly before the death of Lewis (1933), his firm closed, but so far Tiffany technique is considered one of the best, and work - masterpieces of art.