Stained Glass in the Current Middle Ages A Comparison of 12th and 20th Century Techniques, Processes and Materials Used in Building Stained Glass Windows November 13, 1999 By Jimi Lee Known in the SCA as Lord Conor O Ceallaigh AoA, GMB, OSag, OM And in the Silver Horde as Subedei Qorchi James D. Lee 1999 - 2014 Draft Version 21 Date: 8/30/15 Time: 03:49:09 Stained Glass in the Current Middle Ages Page 2 of 56 James D. Lee 1999 - 2015 Stained Glass in the Current Middle Ages Table of Conten Table of Figures.............................................................................................5 Introduction....................................................................................................6 My Introduction to Stained Glass................................................................................6 Stained Glass Projects...................................................................................................7 How Glass is Made.........................................................................................8 What is Glass?................................................................................................................8 Making Glass in the 12th Century.................................................................................8 Making Glass in the 20th Century...............................................................................11 Art (Colored) Glass......................................................................................................13 To Paint or Not To Paint, That is the Question.........................................................15 On the Basic Construction of a Stained Glass Window.............................16 The Project...................................................................................................................16 Creating the pattern and selecting your colors.........................................................17 Creating the Pattern in the 12th Century...................................................................17 Creating the Pattern in the 20th Century...................................................................18 How this Step was Completed...................................................................................18 Cutting the Glass..........................................................................................................19 Glass Cutting Techniques in the 12th Century...........................................................19 Glass Cutting Techniques in the 20th Century...........................................................21 How this Step was Completed...................................................................................21 Fitting the Glass to the Pattern...................................................................................22 12th Century Fitting...................................................................................................22 20th Century Fitting...................................................................................................22 How this Step was Completed...................................................................................23 Painting and Firing the Glass.....................................................................................24 Painting Glass in the 12th Century............................................................................25 Painting Glass on the 20th Century...........................................................................26 How this Step was completed....................................................................................26 Leading the Glass.........................................................................................................26 Leading Techniques of the 12th Century....................................................................26 Leading Techniques of the 20th Century....................................................................27 How this Step was Completed...................................................................................28 Soldering.......................................................................................................................28 Flux in the 20th Century.............................................................................................28 Flux in the 12th Century.............................................................................................28 Solder and Soldering in the 12th Century..................................................................28 Solder and Soldering in the 20th Century..................................................................29 James D. Lee 1999 - 2015 Page 3 of 56 Page 3 Stained Glass in the Current Middle Ages How this Step was Completed...................................................................................29 Weatherproofing the Window....................................................................................29 Weatherproofing the 12th Century Window................................................................30 Weatherproofing the 20th Century Window................................................................30 How this Step was Completed...................................................................................30 Framing the Window...................................................................................................30 In the 12th Century.....................................................................................................30 In the 20th Century.....................................................................................................31 How this Step was Completed...................................................................................31 Reinforcing the Window..............................................................................................31 The Finished Panel......................................................................................................31 More on the Techniques of Painting on Glass for Windows......................32 Background and History.............................................................................................32 Painting on Glass for Windows..................................................................................33 The Paint...................................................................................................................33 The Tools...................................................................................................................34 The Techniques..........................................................................................................34 The Projects..................................................................................................................35 Review of Steps in Making a Stained Glass Window.................................................36 Panel for King Andreas I.............................................................................................37 Just for Kicks...............................................................................................................38 The Pattern................................................................................................................38 Selecting the Glass....................................................................................................38 The Pattern Board.....................................................................................................38 Cutting and Fitting the Glass....................................................................................38 Painting on the Glass................................................................................................39 Consideration for Painting........................................................................................39 Leading, Soldering and Glazing the Panel...............................................................40 Reinforcement and Framing......................................................................................41 Medieval Society and The Craft of Stained Glass......................................42 Social Status of the Glass Craftsman.........................................................................42 The Guilds....................................................................................................................44 Training.....................................................................................................................45 Restoration of Stained Glass Windows........................................................46 Overview of Restoring a Stained Glass Window......................................................46 Bibliography.................................................................................................52 Glossary........................................................................................................53 Biography.....................................................................................................55 Page 4 of 56 James D. Lee 1999 - 2015 Stained Glass in the Current Middle Ages Table of FiguresY Figure 1 - Line drawing of ceramic pots used in 12th century glassmaking...........................................9 Figure 2 - The Continuous Ribbon Process..................................................................................12 Figure 3 - Metal oxides used to make colored glass in the Middle Ages.............................................13