First, we hand cut a copy of the original art design with a special double-bladed knife. An area of glass is selected for color, grain, and texture for each pattern piece. Each piece of pattern (made of heavy paper) is placed over the chosen area of glass, then drawn around with a marker and cut out. This is done with a handheld glass cutter and pliers. As the pieces are cut, they are placed on a large light easel with dabs of putty. This glass easel allows us to view the panel with true light and movement before it is leaded together. If everything is acceptable at this point, the pieces are then ready to lead. This is a process of fitting each piece one-by-one back to the original art design and locking them together with a webbing of lead came. When the leading is complete, each joint (intersection) is then soldered with 60% in/40% lead solder with a handheld iron at about 370 degrees Fahrenheit. The final step is cementing or mudding. This is done with a mixture of Whiting, Plaster-of-Paris, Portland cement, turpentine, and linseed oil. This is forced into the lead came with brushes and partially allowed to dry. The panel is then brushed, picked, and buffed clean.
In over 2,000 years, there have been considerable improvements and greater knowledge gained in ways to construct glass panels for even longer life. We believe what we do is a marriage of the old and the new, and that “Looking Glass Design & Build Studio”, in its time, will contribute to the continuation of that 1,000-year-old legacy, and take the art of stained glass into the 21st century. Owning an original Looking Glass Studio piece of art is owning a piece of history.
