When most people think of stained glass windows they think of huge church and cathedral windows with colorful and intricate designs. Some of these windows date back to the Middle Ages and are still holding up, which is a testament to the craftsmanship of the times. But stained glass pre-dates the Middle Ages and was first used in far ancient times, though its exact origins are unknown.
Stained glass window panels created in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance were typically religiously symbolic in nature or basic designs. The panels that feature people are often easy to date if you have any knowledge of clothing through the years, as the figures will be dressed appropriate to their time period. These antique stained glass windows are often considered priceless and grace many large Catholic cathedrals across Europe.
A stained glass window created today can be manufactured with actual colored glass or plain glass that has color painted and then kiln-baked on. Higher quality pieces are made from specialty glass that’s colored throughout and designed for artisan work. Examples of this are the lamps made by Louis Tiffany around the turn of the 19th century. The lampshades were made from stained glass that he patented, and pieced together using a special technique. Many stain glass windows used today are cheap glass that’s colored and put together with machinery. Early designs like Tiffany’s and all those that preceded it through history were handcrafted and therefore unique.
A trend in home decorating is to use a stained glass window in place of a regular window. There are many manufacturers today who create these colored windows, and it’s also possible to purchase an antique stained glass window to put in your home. This is, of course, the more expensive option as well as a more time-consuming one. Finding just the right window can be painstaking and frustrating, because there are so many imitations, especially if you’re shopping online.
Stained glass window panels are available on eBay and some online antique and vintage stores. But you’d do well to research the claims made by the seller to ensure the panel really is from that period. When you receive the object, how will you verify its age? If you don’t know what to look for or where to take it for verification, then it’s more likely that you’ll pay a premium price for a cheap reproduction.
There are also companies that make reproductions of beautiful, antique designs .These cost a little more, but if you want a certain look, design or colors, this is probably the best way to find what you want. It’s also easier to fit a certain area because you order various sizes. Many offer custom windows as well as glass panel designs for interior walls.
When using antique stained glass windows, you’ll have adjust your space to fit by widening a window opening or adding border panels around it to help fill a large opening. If you’re planning this décor touch for a new construction, purchase the panel early on so a hole can be cut specifically for it. Also consider how it will affect the lighting in that area as they don’t pass as much light as a normal window.