New Stained Glass Commissions

The Episcopal Church of the Nativity
The Episcopal Church of the Nativity located in Dothan, Alabama provided the opportunity to put our best foot forward with a series of nine windows for their side chapel that had existed for almost 50 years with amber cathedral sheet glass. What a magnificent transformation the new stained glass windows made when installed in 2015. The finest “hand-blown” German, French, English, and Domestic glasses were used exclusively to create the rich, sophisticated color scheme.

Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
“Madonna and Child” – Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
Detail of “Madonna and Child” – Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015… click image to enlarge…
Detail of lilies – Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015… click image to enlarge…
Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
“Flight into Egypt” and “Mary and Elizabeth” – Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
“Noah” – Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama 2015…click image to enlarge…
The Chapel as it existed before the addition of the new stained glass windows – Episcopal Church of the Nativity – Dothan, Alabama

Stained Glass Atrocities

For those considering stained glass restoration or stained glass repair, please take the time to research the myriad of studios that advertise stained glass restoration services before selecting one. We would hate for your windows to show up on this page…
Client education is the key to a successful project. Whether it is a new commission, a restoration of century old windows, or a repair of a damaged or vandalized window- only good things happen to your windows by responsible, properly trained, well-experienced artisans. Unfortunately, most consumers can’t tell the difference between good work and bad, and even bad work can last ten or more years before problems begin to appear. A responsible studio will invest the necessary time to properly educate a client, regardless of whether they receive the commission.

The following are just some of the examples that we run across almost daily….
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Click image to zoom in.
Notice the overall bright appearance due to too much solder and failure to properly burnish the solder joints. This panel was restored less than a year ago by someone less than skilled in sound restoration practices of historic stained glass windows. Although is doesn’t show in the photograph, the panel is already beginning to buckle.

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Click image to zoom in.
A closer look and we see the extent to which the panel was soldered, and if I might add, very sloppily. Too much solder and the window becomes too rigid and can no longer freely expand and contract with continuous temperature fluctuations. Not enough solder and the window isn’t structurally sound. With great experience comes the delicate balance between not enough and too much and the understanding necessary to properly solder a stained glass window.

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Click image to zoom in.
In addition to excessive and sloppy soldering both this image and the one above illustrate improper application of weatherproofing compound uniformly referred to as “cement” within the art and craft of stained glass. This material is comprised of whiting, linseed oil, and a darkening agent and is responsible for waterproofing the finished window. When applied properly, it is brushed under the flanges of the lead came, tooled off flush with the lead came, completely removed from the the exposed surface of the glass and lead came,and allowed to setup and cure before installation. None of this appeared to have occurred in the above examples.

Just a few more photographs of more of the same…sloppy, misaligned lead-work, improperly engaged lap-joint, poor quality soldering, and little to no burnish of the solder joints. I can only hope the owners of this poor quality restoration work are unhappy and will learn from their mistake.