Lead vs Foil

Hello Everyone

On this blog post, we delve into the intricate world of stained glass artistry, focusing on the nuanced differences between Leaded Stained Glass and Tiffany Foil techniques. As enthusiasts and professionals alike seek to understand the subtleties that distinguish these two methods, we provide a detailed exploration, shedding light on the unique characteristics and applications of each. Whether you're a seasoned artisan or a curious admirer, this episode promises to enhance your appreciation for these timeless decorative crafts. Join us as we compare Leaded versus Tiffany Foil, ensuring that your knowledge of stained glass is as refined and clear as the pieces themselves.

Leaded stained glass is what you would call traditional stained glass. This style is what you find in all of the European cathedrals, standing as a testament to the skilled craftsmanship of the medieval period to have lasted so long. The process involves fitting together hand-cut pieces of colored glass using lead came—a H-shaped strip of lead— between each piece of glass to hold the design in place. The resulting panels are then secured into the window frames of different materials then places in the window.

once this pieces are put together each joint is soldered together so it becomes one piece. What makes these window water proof is a "cement" it is more of a putty that is put between the lead and the glass, I will go of that process later in another blog.

Tiffany foil stained glass is the newest method it came around in the late 1880's it became a very popular method when it was used for making lamps, and this is why stained glass lamps are called tiffany lamps. this methos take a paper thin piece of copper with adhesive on one side and you wrap it around each piece.

then you solder each piece together. With this method you can hang piece in a window with a solid piece of glass on the outside, the reason you have to have a solid piece on the outside is that tiffany foil is not waterproof like leaded stained glass.

Each method has its good and bad point and we will explore each on in more depth in coming Volumes of this blog.