Stained+glass+windows+by+Christine-GMS

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 = = Stained Glass Windows History The Egyptians were the first people to discover glass while making their vessels. They used the glass to make beads in 2700 BC. Stained glass windows were first used by the Romans in their homes during the first century AD. Some palaces and mosques used stained glass windows in the Middle East. Some of the oldest pieces of stained glass windows are from Jarrow, England at St. Paul’s Monastery from 686 AD. Five stained glass windows depicting the Old Testament Prophets are from the Middle Ages. In the 1600’s the art of making stained glass windows was almost forgotten. In the 1800’s people regained interest again. How was it invented =Many stories describe the invention of stained glass. One by Pliny tells of the accidental discovery of glass by Phoenician sailors recounts one legend. It says that shipwrecked sailors put their cooking pots on blocks of natron (soda) from their cargo and then built a fire under it on the beach. In the morning, the fire’s heat had melted the sand and soda mixture. The mass had cooled and hardened into glass. Today, people think it is more likely that ancient Egyptians accidentally discovered glass when firing their vessels. =

How were they made Stained glass windows are made of painted or tinted glass that is cut into pieces to form a picture that is held together by strips of lead in a rigid frame. In the middle 1000’s through the early 1100’s, the strips of lead were shaped into bars that formed rectangular pieces. In the 1200’s they started creating round windows. These were called rose windows. They got colors by mixing metal oxides with molten glass during smelting.

When and where were they used The stained-glass windows were used in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. They were used in churches because it increased its beauty. They were mainly found in Gothic churches. Why were they used The pictures on the stained glass windows taught religion especially to people who couldn’t read and write. It made a strong impression on the people How was it preserved Painted glass often presents serious preservation challenges. If fired improperly, or if poor quality mixtures were used, painted glass is vulnerable to weathering and condensation. Several steps in the painting process can produce fragile paint that is likely to flake. If applied too thick, the paint may not fuse properly to the glass, leaving small bubbles on the surface. This condition, sometimes called “frying,” can also result from poor paint mixtures. Unfortunately, in American stained glass, the enamels were fired at too low a temperature. This means the most difficult features to replicate—faces, hands and feet—are often the first to flake away. When war loomed in Europe in the 1930's, windows were taken apart piece by piece and stored in safe places. After the war the windows were carefully put back.

Works Cited [|__“The History of Stained Glass Windows.” American Vision Windows, Bill, 2 Oct. 2015.__] [|__"History of Stained Glass." Stained Glass Association of America. Richard, 2012. Web.__] [|__“The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass.” Technical Preservation Services. Neal A. Vogel and Rolf Achilles, Oct. 2007. Web__]