Stained glass
Stained glass is a type of glazing material that is coloured (stained), either by the addition of metallic salts during the manufacturing process, or by having colour applied to its surface and then being fired in a kiln to fuse the colour to the glass.
Stained glass can be used for a wide range of purposes, but it is most commonly found in flat panels in windows. Stained glass windows typically comprise small pieces of coloured glass held in place by a latticed web of lead strips formed within a rigid frame. The pieces are often arranged to create patterns or pictorial representations, often depicting religious iconography.
Stained glass windows are commonly associated with cathedrals, churches, mosques and other important buildings such as libraries and town halls. In England, the use of simple stained glass windows dates back to the 7th century, and by the 12th century they had become a sophisticated art form. However, following the Reformation in the 16th century, when sacred art began to decline in prominence, the craft of manufacturing stained glass began to dwindle.
Historic England 2020 Stained Glass Windows: Managing Environmental Deterioration, Swindon, Historic England, published in 2020 states: ‘Stained glass is not the only means of producing a decorative window; others include etching, engraving or ‘fritting’. One of the most important alternative methods is dalle-de-verre, where thick pieces of glass are set directly into a matrix of resin or concrete. This technique was used to form some of the most dramatic and important stained glass in the periods before and immediately after World War II, but as with all innovative systems, it can sometimes present serious conservation challenges. More tricky still to preserve are windows incorporating fibreglass, or even plastic.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bas relief.
- Carlisle cathedral.
- Clerestory.
- Curved glass.
- Decorative glass.
- English Perpendicular architecture.
- Glass.
- Glazing.
- Horror vacui.
- Large-scale murals.
- Lavatorium.
- Lead glass.
- Paint.
- Rose window.
- Stained glass window guidance.
- Tessera.
- Kempe: the life, art and legacy of Charles Eamer Kempe.
- Trompe l’oeil.
- Types of window.
- Wallcovering.
- Window.
[edit] External references
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC at COP26 - Conserving our Places Conserves our Planet 1-12 Nov 2021
The IHBC seeks to raise awareness and understanding of how building conservation philosophy and practice contributes towards meeting the challenge of climate change.
IHBC, CIfA, IEMA launch Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment
The joint-institute document aims to help maintain cultural heritage by providing a consistent framework across different sectors & geographies
Enter Now to Win: IHBC's GASA Awards 2021
IHBC’s Gus Astley Student Awards 2021: Win £500 and a place on IHBC’s 2022 Aberdeen School with your built environment/heritage coursework, closes 31/07!
Former Harris meat factory mansion in Calne, Wilts, to be restored
The last remaining buildings on the site of the Harris meat factory family’s historic mansion are being restored to their former glory and converted into new homes.
CICV Forum introduces professional indemnity insurance guide
The Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum (CICV Forum) has unveiled a new guide to the crucial and increasingly complex issue of professional indemnity insurance (PII).
The World Heritage Committee(WHC): Liverpool should lose its World Heritage status.
ICOMOS has advised that the new football stadium proposal, if implemented, would have a completely unacceptable major adverse impact its authenticity and integrity.
Scotland’s CSIC: New plans to transform public spaces into sustainable office hubs
Responding to the changing working patterns of a post-Covid Scotland, the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) has revealed new plans to help retrofit public spaces into out-of-town alternatives to city centre offices.
IHBC’s latest Context explores ‘Applying Digital Technology'
The free-to-access online issue mixes the topical and practical to explore how the sector can best adapt to digital innovation.
IHBC Annual School: Historic Places - People Places: 18 June 2021
IHBC’s 2021 virtual conference examines how we can best change and sustain places for the benefit of people, led by expert practitioners boasting international, national and local profiles and experiences.
Europe’s top heritage awards honour 24 exemplary achievements from 18 countries
The 2021 winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards have been announced.