Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-06
WOMEN WINDOW MAKERS.
Skill Another Profession Open to the
Feminine Sex.

A comparatively new and wholly fas-
chatting field fer women who have the
right qualifications, has been opened at
the Tiffany studios. New York, where
the making Of stained glass windows.
mosaics. and many forms of art work
in glass which have hitherto been pro-
duced py men are now being taught
them. The women are proving them
selves apt pupils. and although they
are doing the work extremely well,
they are experimenting, rot crowding
out, men.
From the beginning their keener sem
sitiveness, and acute artistic sense has
atoned for the lack of NEE ilanical skill
natural or acquire ed. which has been Il
prevailing characteristic with men,
From the beginning, the woman VINO
mas an Unborn aptitude for the work.
supplemented by Il course of artistic
training has made a success when
working with glass as medium. Still.
she, as well as the man, needs the me-
Chanical training. and provision has
now been made at the studios whereby
girls are received at a much younger
age than formerly, and the mechanical,
training precedes the artistic course.
The benefits of this mechanical
training are incalculable, the young
women who receive it being as Il rule
more practical. beside getting a good
insight into the artistic side ofthe work
before they are actually Obliged to do
ii. through their positions as mechanic
cal apprentices.
The window is made after a painted
model, the various pieces of glass be-
ing chosen to match the cOlors in the
painting, and then cut into the re-
quired irregular shape. and fitted one
20 another after the fashion of puZ-
zle picture. Each piece of the cut
glass corresponds to Il marked section
in working drawing which is made
rom the painting, so that when the
whole lis completed it is a sort of
Mosaic. The lines of joining are then
filled with metal.
AS aid in matching the colors in the
painting, glass of various kinds and
thicknesses is manufactured for the
studio. There are drapery glass. wing
glass. foliage glass. sky glass. for maxi
ing these substances. and SO Indefinite
~. The work of matching is done on
easels placed in such way as to al
low the light to shine directly through
the glass. SO that the quality of the
colors may be judged by the worker as
She proceeds.
This requires on the part of the
worker a sort of artistic gift. which
cannot be impaired, but must be in
born. The walls OF the studio are OF
glass on three sides, this allowing the
very best light, although the room may
be sub-divided when necessary by cur
tains.
Mosaic work. although not needing
the translucent test as does window
making. is a longer and somewhat
more complicated process. requiring
much care. but to one who has mas
tered it. II is fascination.
The field for this work is limited
one, but it has new applications in
these days when glass lamp shades.
ana the like in mosaic effects are SO
popular. To the woman with taste
for this form Of art. and who is willing
to serve an apprenticeship. her advice
is to press on. for this profession Ike
all others, has its rewards for those
who seek them diligently and with pa