The fabrication of a leaded glass panel is an intricate and exacting process. From a scale drawing, the full-sized pattern is precisely drawn. Each piece of selected glass, textured clear or colored, is cut and ground to size. The lead is wrapped around each piece, building out from one corner with the zinc borders; each piece must be within the boundary lines of the pattern to insure accuracy. On completion of the leading, all joints are soldered on both sides. Turning a large panel to solder the reverse side is a highly focused maneuver. The panel is then cemented with a special glazing compound that hardens and makes the panel rigid; it is then cleaned with a dry white powder called whiting. After the cement hardens, intense cleaning, sealing of the lead to prevent oxidation, and polishing result in an immaculate piece of glass art ready to install.
After the initial meeting with the client during which their needs and desires are discovered, the first step is contemplating all elements and then creating an inspired design. The design is then drawn to scale along with the initial glass selection by the artist for presentation to the client at the next meeting. In this case the client wanted privacy artfully created with lots of color next to the front door in a hanging panel large enough to cover most of the double hung window. The repeating pattern design in graduating colors was a perfect fit.
The fabrication of a leaded glass panel is an intricate and exacting process. From a scale drawing, the full-sized pattern is precisely drawn. Each piece of selected glass, textured clear or colored, is cut and ground to size. The lead is wrapped around each piece, building out from one corner with the zinc borders; each piece must be within the boundary lines of the pattern to insure accuracy. On completion of the leading, all joints are soldered on both sides. Turning a large panel to solder the reverse side is a highly focused maneuver. The panel is then cemented with a special glazing compound that hardens and makes the panel rigid; it is then cleaned with a dry white powder called whiting. After the cement hardens, intense cleaning, sealing of the lead to prevent oxidation, and polishing result in an immaculate piece of glass art ready to install.
After the initial meeting with the client during which their needs and desires are discovered, the first step is contemplating all elements and then creating an inspired design. The design is then drawn to scale along with the initial glass selection by the artist for presentation to the client at the next meeting. In this case the client wanted privacy artfully created with lots of color next to the front door in a hanging panel large enough to cover most of the double hung window. The repeating pattern design in graduating colors was a perfect fit.