When I first got involved in stain glass I was so overwhelmed by the variation is styles and finishes available. As I became more failure with them I began using industry terms to make purchase and eventually to describe my works available for sale. My blog posts are intended to help bridge the knowledge gap by providing a common language for our clients while discussing purchase or requests for customer work.
While this list covers a lot, you will come across unique examples that do not find in these standard industry styles. Like anything in the creative work of art, some things are simply beyond the boxes we like to use and are most appreciated for them just as they are&#;beautiful.
Antique Glass
There are several variations of antique glass , most of which can be sorted into two groups: full Traditional Antique and Modern Antique.
Traditional Antique
Works made from this type of stained glass are created using the most traditional, authentic methods. Full antique glass is handcrafted and mouth-blown using the cylinder method. This method, perfected in Germany is where the glass is blown similar to how vases, glassware and such are made. The glass is then cut while still warm allowing it to fall flat where it is baked again. This long process requiring years of training, which is why it&#;s one of the most expensive types of stained glass. This glass is characterized by being clear or using rich translucent colors with linear striations, often bending or warping the world view beyond. This hand blown approach often contains small air bubbles called seeds.
Modern Antique or GNA (German New Artique)
Semi-antique glass shares the same characteristics as full antique, but is made without the classic mouth-blown technique. Instead, a machine is used to simulate the striations of full antique glass. Stained glass pieces made with this type of glass are still excellent quality, but considerably cheaper than their handcrafted counterparts. Semi-antique glass sheets are usually made with just one color.
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Beveled Glass
Beveled glass is primarily identified by its angled edges. Sheets of this type of glass are thick with a polished, angled border about half an inch wide. It is usually clear, so that when the light shines through and hits the angled edges it refracts with a prism-like effect.
Beveled glass is often formed to shape that together create lovey design elements called Bevel Clusters.
Common geometric shapes, squares and rectangles are often used to build boarder in victorian style panels.
Cathedral Glass
One of the most common, simplest types of stained glass, cathedral glass is a translucent sheet rolled by a machine or blown by mouth. These sheets are thin, usually one color, and often textured on one side. Cathedral glass is ideal for windows and doors, because of how easily light passes through. It is often found in medieval European cathedrals, hence the name.
Glue Chip Glass
Glue chip glass is defined by its natural-looking textured pattern. This texture is created by applying animal hide glue to a sheet of glass (usually sandblasted cathedral) and then heating it. As the glue dries it contracts, chipping the glass and creating beautiful frost-like patterns. Glue chip glass is often used for background panels and borders.
Iridescent Glass
This type of stained glass is crafted by using a metallic treatment on cathedral or opalescent glass. A layer of metallic oxide is added to the hot glass surface, resulting in a shimmering effect as it bonds. Iridescent glass is known for its glittery, reflective quality and unique &#;mother of pearl&#; or &#;rainbow&#; sheen.
Opalescent Glass
Opalescent glass is distinguished by its opaqueness, meaning that you cannot see through it. It comes in different degrees of transparency&#;sometimes with a soft glowing appearance or sometimes transmitting no light at all. It is made using either one color or by swirling a combination of two to four colors together. Opalescent glass is popular for stained glass lamp shades and mosaic works.
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