Mention stained glass panel and the first thing that will probably come to the average person’s mind is church. Throughout the Middle Ages, churches utilized stain glass window panels not only to decorate these places of congregation, but to also depict biblical stories to the largely illiterate population. For centuries, stained glass panel was made by a hand blown process. Artisans used various metallic salts as well as different baking temperatures to get different glass thickness and colorations.

The texture of a stained glass panel could be wavy pebbled, rough or smooth. The different metallic salts and other impurities intentionally left in the glass were used for coloring since they helped refract light at different wavelengths. The artisans used lead to hold together the pieces of glass, shaping them into designed pictures.

After World War II, the art of stained glass panel making experienced a revival as modern designers and glass makers worked to help rebuild the churches and cathedrals that were destroyed.  What was once considered a dead art soon became popular again thanks to modern glass makers like German master Ludwig Shaffrath and Tiffany, one of the premier makers of stained glass.

Customized Stained Glass Panel

While you can still find stained glass panel in churches, they can also be a great addition to any home or office. Customized stained glass pieces are available from many different artisans and companies and can be used to hide a hideous view or to help personalize a new home. They can even be customized to look like a particular picture, idea or photograph. Many stained glass panel makers work closely with their client in order to recreate a personalized scene. A permanent installation such as a skylight, window casing, or door can help increase the value of the property and a framed or hung stand alone piece could even appreciate over time. The price of customized stained glass panel depends upon what is wanted or needed by the costumer and is determined by detail, panel size type of glass used and the artist commissioned.

Vintage Stain Glass Panel

You can also choose to buy a vintage stained glass panel piece to use to refurbish a window or door.  Many panels are salvaged from old buildings about to face the wrecking ball and are refurbished and sold by vintage dealers.  Stained glass will last a century by itself and several hundred years if properly refurbished when it ages.
Refurbishing a antique stained glass panels can be considered an art in its own right. It involves more than just general preventive maintenance which is done every twenty years. When the lead that holds the glass pieces together begins to weaken, it may be replaced. This will extend the life of the glass for another hundred years. Since glass is a viscous material, it will also need to be maintained, perhaps even removed and carefully flattened. Many classic designs are also reproduced by new artisans and sold in shops and online.