Historians do not pinpoint an exact time period when early man first invented the craft of adding metallic salts, such as copper, gold, and cobalt, to glass. It is believed that by the 2nd century BC, Egyptians were already established glass makers. The original use of this technique may have come from jewelry; cloisonné and mosaics. This craft eventually spread to Italy. It is there that artifacts from Herculaneum and Pompeii were unearthed in the 1st Century AD, which appears to confirm that the Romans were also adept at making stained glass materials. From Italy, stained glass making moved on, as civilization did, throughout Europe.
The earliest surviving stained glass piece with a picture on it was excavated from Lorsch Abbey, in Germany, dating back to the 10th century AD. It was during that time that depictions of Christ and biblical scenes were found in French and German churches and decorative designs found in England. By the 11th and 12th centuries, with the increase in the number of churches in Europe, stained glass manufacture proliferated. Having first been used in churches, it was often called “cathedral glass”. The Gothic age saw the production of the great cathedrals of Europe and the peak of stained glass making. Stained glass transformed what must have previously been a gloomy atmosphere in those august buildings, to a sun-filled display of colorful inspiration that could thrill the soul and inspire the prayers whispered within those church spires.
It was during this Gothic period that stained glass became more picture and less atmosphere. Colors softened, to let in more light, and paint work became more sophisticated. Stained glass also became a fashionable addition to residences and public buildings. Depictions of heraldic shields and coats of arms became popular and much of the glory of stained glass was lost. In the 18th Century many stained glass windows were removed as being old fashioned and were replaced with painted glass.
Yet, by the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, stained glass making received a revival during the Art Nouveau period. American glass makers introduced a newly patented “milky” glass known as opalescent glass in Europe, a patent owned by John LaFarge. Louis Tiffany, another American painter, also began experimenting with glass. Independently, they developed a glass that possessed a wide range of visual effects without painting. Tiffany began using copper foils instead of lead to tape the individual glass pieces, making the completed piece lighter and more malleable. This allowed for more complex designs in his stained glass lamps.
The process of making stained glass lamps is now automated and mechanized with newer, and more costly, materials. Also, since the 1950’s more people have taken to making stained glass lamps as a hobby. These lamps can now be created in modern electric home kilns, which have taken away the element of expertise that had been previously required. Yet, the popularity of stained glass making, and the prospect of owning one of these glorious lamps, continues unabated.
Because of these very talented individuals, we are fortunate enough to be able to bring a piece of this art into our own homes in the form of table lamps, floor lamps, and desk lamps.
