Category Archives: Historic Stained Glass

Posted on

Stained Glass Restoration: One Big Mistake I Almost Always Make

Restoration (vs. conservation)

by

When I restore a broken piece of painted glass – restore it: so I mean when I “re-paint” it, not glue it, which I call “conservation” – there’s a big mistake I almost always make.

I say “almost”. Really though I should say “a mistake I always make – and then, just in time, I catch myself, start again, and do things properly”, thank goodness.

I want to tell you more. I want to – confess. But not just because my full confession may help you. (I can’t pretend I’m quite so selfless.) No, if I’m honest with myself, I’m fed up with this mistake I always make. It will be wonderful if, the next time I restore a broken piece of painted glass, I avoid this foolish error and get things right immediately.

So maybe – maybe! – by setting this down before your eyes, I’ll help myself.

Posted on

I Spy Stained Glass

by

Symbols:

Stained glass designers down the centuries have evolved symbolic methods for depicting key people or events. I am not thinking of those symbols which stained glass designers share with or borrow from artists who work in other media; I am specifically thinking of symbols which just occur within stained glass.

Now I do know how last week (August 15th) saw the Assumption (i.e. the Virgin Mary).

But here is the stained glass symbol which you can often find in English churches to represent the Ascension (Jesus). It’s intriguing. I hope you’ll have a look.