Modern Stained Qlasswork

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 20, 19 May 1904, Page 15

Modern Stained Qlasswork

The twentieth century 'American stained glass maker follows without important variation (tays the ' Booklovers' Magazine ') the simple methods of the French monk of eight cenfuries ago. The ftrst requisite is the design. The artist makes a small watercolor sketch to show the general desig/n and color scheme, accompanying it with detailed stiutiies. From this two large drawings or cartoons are made, the exact size of the desired window. One cartoon shows where the ' leads ' will be placed— the thin strips of lead, hollowed on both sides and looking in a transverse section like the letter H, which form the framewoirk to bind the pieces of glass together. .another drawing gives the size and shape of eaoh piece of glass. This cartoon is cut into its component pieces by a pair (or triplet) of three-blaides scissors, which lea,ve between their parallel blades a space sufficient for the lea,ds. Ihese cut-out patterns are put together again on a large glass easel, to which they are attached by wax, and the spaces between are blacked in, to give the effect of the leads.

The easel is then placed against a window where the light can stream through it. The artist or his substitute replaces each paper pattern on the eased by a piece of glass ol exactly the same sue, cut from a sheet of glass of the color called for by the color sketch. The sketch is not followed exactly ; experiment with the actual glas's will suggest improvements. To a greater or less extent this stained glass is supplemented by .painted glass, on which the colors are fired, as in china painting When all tdie pieces have been cut they are transferred to the ' leading ' drawing ; the flexible leads are twisted into shape arad soldered at the joints, and a Special cement applied to make the whole water-tight The window is now complete, ready to be put in position, where it is made secure by copper wires fastened to the transverse bars of iron.