Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-23
OHIO'S EXHIBIT
OF STAINED GLASS.
Wonderful Windows to Be Shown
at the Exposition, With the
Ways of Making Them.

Among the most attractive exhibits at
the coming Ohio Exposition will be that
of the stained glass.
While stained glass is an ancient pro-
duct, having been admired of the Pha-
roahs, it is only recently that it has been
made cheaply enough to admit its use by
people of ordinary wealth Now stained
or colored glass is so inexpensive that
there are few houses built without it;
and in some colors, such as a GER ain shade
| of blue and pale cOlored yellow it is
i cheaper than clear glass. Stained glass is
not necessarily Opaque, but discolors and
| dlstorts in such way that it is rarely
used in the windows of living rooms.
It's object for modern use is either to
shut out disagreeable view or to dec
crate.
The exhibit at the exposition will be
in the decorative line; and some of the
glass windows are made will be shown.
By stained glass window is meant not
one in which the panes of glass are col
Ored but a window in which scenes are
shown and in which the glass is so ar
ranged that it makes picture.
HOW IT IS COLORED.
Each manufacturer has his recipes for
staining glass and there are those upon
which amateurs work; but all are worked
upon the same principles, namely, by
those of coloring red, by means of copper;
blue, by cobalt; yellow, by silver; and
But these are the crudest hints and
give one little idea of the tedious yet in
teresting processes by which clear glass
becomes the beautiful coOred product
which makes our stained glass windows.
AS the art in coloring glass became
finer, the price rose and a stained glass
window Of to-day costs anything you want
to pay for it. You can get memorial
window for $500, but you can very easily
pay $1,000 for one also, and even more. Or
this sum $500 goes to the artist who paints
the picture which is to be copied in the
window; $500 more to the artist who de-
signs the colors and works with the artist
in getting suitable combinations OF glass.
and the remaining $1,000 is for the actual
execution. This is the sum lately paid by
a Californian who placed memorial WIN
dow in an Eastern church for his wife.
But of course, this sum is a widely vary
! ing one and can be cut or enlarged at any
point.
GREAT SHEETS OF GLASS.
In order to understand the nature Of
the stained glass industry it is necessary
to make a tour of inspection through d
factory. One comes first to the place
where the. sheets of colored glass to be
vast quantities in convenient receptacles
| The sheets are very thick and are colored
in every imaginable hue: They . show
nesses cunningly designed to initiate drap-
! cry, clouds, trees and other decorations
which are introduced in the windows:
When it is proposed to make a stained
glass window, the design having been Sc
| lected, two transfers of it are made On
MANILA paper. One of these is cut INTO
pieces, each piece representing the size
| and shape of one piece of glass required
| to fit into the design. To cut out these
| pieces, which are carefully numbered,
| fhree-legged scissors are used, which fol-
| lowing the markings of the design, also
| cut away a narrow strip of paper; the
width of this strip exactly corresponds to
the thickness of the lead which is later to
be introduced between the pieces OF glass
| to join them together
When all have been cut out they. are
| ioI1+ aS+p1 a OIL
the outlines of the design have been traced
with black paint. The use Of this black
I panna against the light # Prevents the
light from penetrating through the mar
row spaces between the pieces and annoy;
ing the workman who stands at the back.
Now comes the labor of selecting the
glass which is to enter into the compost
ton of the window. With small colored
design beside him, the workman takes
piece by piece of stained glass of the de-
sired color, ard proceeds to cut 1t to the
required shape. He lays a paper pattern
upon it and uses a diamond cutter, after
ward removing the inequalities.
THE FINAL WORK.
After it is cut each piece of glass is
put into its place and the design grow:
like magic under the, workers hands-as
! a painting under the brush.
The faces and hands are left untouche|
until the last. They are painted upoI
clear glass, then fired and put In last o.
When the window is completed it il
carried out and Laid upon table over the
second map or design to be loaded. The
lead is all prepared, and is quickly ap
piled to the glass. 1t is extremely pliablt
and is made with lateral grooves which
just admit the thickness of the glass
The Joints are afterward soldered and al
the surface timed to improve its appear
ance.
Young women are usually employed as
stained-glass window makers, because o.
their artistic appreciation OF the beautiful
The work, although of a critical nature
recurring the utmost accuracy, is pleasant
and stained-gIass workers enjoy it. Worh
upon stained glass differs entirely IRON
the manufacture of clear glass, which l.
sometimes injurious.