Stained Glass has a long and varied history. When we first hear the term Stained Glass, most people immediately think of spectacular Church or Cathedral windows. Well the origins of colored glass go back a lot longer than the medieval churches of Europe where those distinctive Rose windows were created.
Historians believe that cultures as far back as the ancient Egyptians had begun to experiment with the technology of creating and colouring glass. Now they certainly weren't making huge windows, but they were starting to experiment with small scale glass production, creating jewels and beads for ornamentation and for religious purposes. Certainly it would only have been the richest and most powerful for who would have access to the glass creators skills. After all the creation of such a material as glass would probably have been seen as a magical, alchemical process. The Kings and Queens who would won the glass jeweled ornamentations would no doubt have used their possession to reinforce their image as the all powerful ones.
Nowadays Stained Glass has transformed from something accessible only too the elite, to a very popular hobby which can be accessed by everyone:
Thousands of people around the world explore the enjoyable hobby of stained glass, whilst others enjoy stained glass decoration in their homes.
Historians believe that cultures as far back as the ancient Egyptians had begun to experiment with the technology of creating and colouring glass. Now they certainly weren't making huge windows, but they were starting to experiment with small scale glass production, creating jewels and beads for ornamentation and for religious purposes. Certainly it would only have been the richest and most powerful for who would have access to the glass creators skills. After all the creation of such a material as glass would probably have been seen as a magical, alchemical process. The Kings and Queens who would won the glass jeweled ornamentations would no doubt have used their possession to reinforce their image as the all powerful ones.
Nowadays Stained Glass has transformed from something accessible only too the elite, to a very popular hobby which can be accessed by everyone:
Thousands of people around the world explore the enjoyable hobby of stained glass, whilst others enjoy stained glass decoration in their homes.
Here we can see two distinct forms of stained glass window, found within the same Cathedral. Both these images were taken in Liverpool Cathedral.
The one on the left shows a fairly modern style of semi abstract geometric imagery. Whilst the one on the right shows a much more traditional form of stained glass, more clearly figurative and incorporating some painting on the glass where details such as faces are required.
The one on the left shows a fairly modern style of semi abstract geometric imagery. Whilst the one on the right shows a much more traditional form of stained glass, more clearly figurative and incorporating some painting on the glass where details such as faces are required.
Stained Glass
About Stained Glass
Its History and Origins
Cathedral Windows
Its History and Origins
Cathedral Windows
