Leaded glass (stained glass) is a window infill in which separate pieces of glass are joined by lead profiles (cames) into a single panel. The H-shaped lead cames enclose the edges of the glass pieces; at the junctions the cames are soldered together, after which the joints are sealed with putty.
Application
Leaded glass is common in churches, listed buildings and houses from the early twentieth century. It was used for decorative windows, fanlights and entrance doors. The glass may be clear, coloured or painted, creating colourful scenes and geometric patterns.
Traditionally, leaded glass makes it possible to fill large windows with small pieces of glass, which was necessary in the past because large sheets of glass could not be made. Today leaded glass is used mainly for decorative and craft reasons, often executed double or set behind insulating glass for better insulation.
Characteristics
Characteristic is the network of lead cames that follows the contour of each piece of glass. In larger panels, horizontal steel saddle bars are added for stiffening, to which the panel is tied. Maintenance consists of re-fixing and, where necessary, re-soldering the lead joints, because the soft lead can sag over the years.
Related terms
- glass
- lead
- window
- stained glass painting
- fanlight
- glazing
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