The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-03-31
STAINED GLASS IN HOUSES.


Through the increased demand for
stained glass windows in the city as we'll as
in the suburbs" said the foreman of large
jewelry establishment ON Broadway few
days ago, this firm has been compelled
to go into the business, and to-day there is
scarcely one of our richest customers whose
dwelling is not adorned with stained glass
windows. For centuries past stained glass
was used only in churches and cathedrals
and bore the imprints of holy persons. This
is no longer the case, and country resi-
dence without its artistically stained VIM
dows is considered out of place. Within a
year or two the number of artists engaged
in this profession or business has increased
at least about twenty-fold and yet our ability
to fill our orders is sometimes oyertaxed. Do
stores have stained glass windows? No. What
you see in restaurant and saloon windows
is nothing but colored paper CLOSED over
with varnish, and very poor imitation 1t
is at best. The first of the leading mer-
chants in this new departure was the late
Horace B. Clafin. He got us TO decorate
his summer residence OF Fordham. The
yestibule doors and the rear hall entrance
are brilliantly decorated. The dome sur
mounting this palatial residence is also
artistically glazed with stained glass of
many hues and colors."
What are the fayorite colors ?"
They differ and vary as much as do the
fashions. just at present the colors most
sought after are old gold, ruby, and an in
finite variety OF shades of green. There Is
also large and increasing demand for
what is known as iewelled work. These
jewels are composed Of small pieces of
glass, which are either round or oblong,
are cut in the style or shape of diamonds,
or are left plain
g Are these jewels manufactured in this
country and how ore they made ?"
Most of them are They are made by
pouring molten glass into moulds, and
when cold the diamond is cut on the glass; "
Have the general public begun to un-
derstand this artistic business ?"
No, for in the first instance they think
the work is very expensive. 1t ia true that
certain designs are beyond the reach of the
middle classes, but they could have hand
some decorations for one-half the price
they believe il would cost them. Il is
amusing to see many customers come in
here and give their orders without having
the faintest idea OF what they require. Their
neighbors have stained glass windows, and
they must have the sumo"
How do you meet the difficulty p
''For the accommodation of such cuso-
mers We always keep ON hand multitude
of designs. many of which are marked in
glass and others drawn on paper. FIRE.
.quenlly selection from these is made but
very often We have to make special draw-
ings for them. Let me give you an in
stance. A prominent bank president, who
recently built himself mansion on Long
Island Sound, called here, went through
every design in the place, but said that
none suited HIM. What he desired most of
all was something new for large star win
dow that overlooked the SQUAD. There was
good boating and fishing in the vicinity he
added, aud he wanted something appropri-
resented a sportsman ON one knee, gun in
hand, at the shore of q lake, aiming at q
string Of ducks just taking fight from the
water, having been disturbed by q water
spaniel. This suited the gentleman in
every particular, and he paid handsomely
for the window and was well satisfied. To
cut figures, or rather put them together
with pieces of different colored glass re-
quires time and the greatest care. There is
another class of customers who come here
with prepared designs on paper, and there
is still another who leave the whole matter
to us. For this class OF customers we send
to their residences, and having studied
the surroundings carefully, either in town
or suburb. submit designs that are suitable.
II is astonishing how much Of this latter
work Ia done without angle complaint or
alteration in the artists design"