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Stained glass is something that many of us love to admire when we encounter it but that most of us see very rarely. It’s also probably a style of artwork that you know very little about, so if you’re interested in finding out about the history of stained glass, we’ve got you covered. According to The Stained Glass Association of America, this style of artwork has actually been around for over a thousand years.
One of the earliest known examples of multicolored pieces of glass being used in a window was discovered at St. Paul’s Monastery in Jarrow, England, which was founded in 686 AD. Experts also believe that Arabian stained glass windows appeared during the second half of the 13th century.
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Stained glass was never purely a Christian art form, but it is present in many Christian churches and cathedrals today. The style of this artwork has transformed over time. During the Romanesque period, the most predominant colors used were red and blue, and much of the artwork depicted well-known saints or stories from the Bible.
During the Gothic era, however, it was more common for stained glass to feature “symbolism based on bestiaries” or “unnatural history.” And depending on the location of the church, there may have been reds and blues or whites, yellows, and greens used in the artwork.
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Once the Renaissance period began, stained glass started to look very different. One major difference was that stained glass started appearing in secular buildings as well. And the subjects featured in stained glass artwork were often dressed in period clothing, depicting historical scenes, allegorical themes, and figures representing abstract ideas. It also became more common for artists to ship their pieces across large distances, meaning that stained glass started popping up in more and more locations across Europe.
Today, stained glass can be used for much more than just church windows. As you can see from this list, there are plenty of creative artists out there who are pushing the boundaries of what can be made with stained glass. And if you’re interested in taking up this hobby yourself, Different Glass has some advice for beginners.
First, they note that this can be a great craft to take up if you’re looking for a creative outlet or a new technical challenge. It’ll provide you with the joy of creating something new, but it can also be an incredibly calming and healing hobby.
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Before getting started on your stained glass journey, you’ll need to acquire the appropriate tools. These include safety glasses, safety gloves, a glass cutter, breaking pliers, a glass grinder, copper foil or lead came, tallow flux, and a soldering iron. You’ll also need to choose the type of glass that you want to work with, but as a beginner, it’s wise to choose something straightforward and cost-effective, Different Glass notes. And of course, safety should always be your top priority.
The process of creating a beautiful stained glass piece begins with conceptualizing exactly what you want. Then, once you have a clear vision, you can get to glass cutting. After each piece is cut, it needs to be cleaned, and then foiled or leaded. Finally, you’ve reached the soldering stage. And then, you can add the finishing touches to your piece. These might include framing elements or additional details.
