Use and Care Manual

The Birth of the Tiffany Method
Louis Comfort Tiffany was drawn to great beauty and art of all kinds,
especially the magnificent stained glass windows of European cathedrals.
Creating stained glass that would be available for American homes
became his goal.
I
n the middle ages, artisans created intricate windows using hand-fired
glass, fusing painted colors to the surface, then piecing them together
using lead came (channeled pieces of flexible leading).
Tiffany wanted to use the natural beauty of his pieces for it to appear
as if he were painting with glass. To achieve the level of detail wanted,
he devised a method of assembling the pieces without the lead came.
He wrapped each individual piece of glass with strips of copper foil.
The foil-wrapped pieces were assembled and then soldered together.
The results of Tiffany’s innovation were breathtaking, and in the early
twentieth century Tiffany windows began to adorn homes of the
American upper class.
Eventually, dirt, soot and grime may build up on the glass from pollution,
smoke and oxidation. These deposits reduce the amount of light passing
through the windows, giving them a dull, muted appearance.
Cleaning the window will restore it to its original appearance. The first
attempt should be with plain water. If plain water doesn’t work, try
using a non-ionic detergent.* If this method doesn’t work, try a
stronger solution. Stained glass can be cleaned with acetone, ethanol,
isopropyl alcohol or mineral spirits to remove shellac, varnish or stain.
After cleaning, be sure to remove all chemical residue with a
non-ionic detergent and thoroughly rinse off with clean water.
Please remember, a little maintenance and care will keep your
stained glass investment beautiful for many years to come.
*If you aren’t sure whether or not your glass piece is painted,
do not use anything stronger than plain water.
Thank you for your purchase!
We hope you enjoy your stained glass window as much as we
enjoyed creating it for you! The following recommendations are
o
ffered to help ensure that your stained glass purchase will
provide you with years of enjoyment.
The Mystery of Glass
Glass is a sparkling, jewel-like substance made from ordinary
materials: sand transformed by fire. It captures the light, glows
from within, and is colored by adding metallic salts and oxides.
Minerals within the glass create a spectrum of color from white light.
Please remember that this is a hand-crafted product, and variation
is not only to be expected, it is one of the hallmarks of the way
we make glass. Folds, ripples, and other textures are artistically
added using rollers, while “seeds” (bubbles) are incorporated by
introducing water to the molten glass. These details provide each
Design Toscano window with its own individual flair.
The History of Stained Glass
The origins of stained glass windows are lost in history, probably
originating after jewelers began using similar glazing techniques in
their work. By the 10th century, intricately designed windows were
found in many English, French, and German churches.
The Tiffany Method:
The Modern Copper-Foil Technique
Below are the steps of the copper-foil method:
1. A full-sized “cartoon” pattern is developed.
2. Each piece of glass is cut to match the pattern exactly.
3. The edges are ground smooth, usually with
an electric grinder.
4. The pieces are carefully cleaned and dried,
removing any oil or dust.
5. Each piece of glass is wrapped with copper foil.
6. Each piece should fit the pattern exactly and is
temporarily held in place with pins.
7. Flux and solder are then used to “solder-tack”
the intersections of each piece.
8. The copper foil is completely fluxed and solder
is carefully applied to both sides.
9. A “bead,” or rounded line of solder is then added
to the joints on both sides.
10. The outside edge is framed using U-came, and
hanging rings or brackets are added.
11. Traces of flux are carefully washed away and
the pieces are left to dry thoroughly.
12. A patina is applied, then re-washed and dried
once more.
13. Finally, carnauba wax is used to polish the
soldered joints and the glass.
“True art is ever progressive and impatient of fixed rules.
Because a thing has always been done in a certain way
is no reason why it should never be done in any other.”
—Louis Comfort Tiffany
Bevel: Cut
and polished
edge usually
on plate
glass at an
angle other
than 90°.
Bubble: A pocket
of gas trapped in
glass during
manufacture, such
as “seeds”: minute
bubbles of gas,
usually occurring in
groups, sometimes
called seeded glass.
Rolled Edges:
Generally
found on
sheets where
the edges have
smoothed over
and bulge
somewhat
from the
surface.
Glass Cabochons
(Jewels): Thick,
free-form rounded
pieces of stained glass
in various sizes. Often
used to replace smaller
round pieces in a design,
such as grapes in a
cluster, a flower center,
or to add dimensional
interest to a piece.
Filigree:
Generally
made of
brass,
they are
designs or
flat strips
used as
decorative
edges or
appliqués.
Rolled
Glass:
Sheet glass
formed by
a roller
flattening
the glass
into sheets.
Cartoon: The
name for the
working
drawing for a
stained glass
design, which
contains
all the
cut lines.
Ripple Glass:
Machine-
rolled glass;
the rippled
texture of
which is
imprinted
from the
roller.
Solder: The
mixture of
metals, most
often tin and
lead, used to
hold copper
foil and
leaded glass
together.
Art Glass: Several
types of glass with
newly developed
textures (glass with
an impressed pattern
in the surface,
creating unique light
patterns), shaded
colors or casing.
Glazier’s
Lead Came:
An extruded
product
made into
channels to
accept and
hold the
glass to
shape.
Patina:
Chemical
solutions
applied
to the
solder or
lead to
create a
different
color.
Copper Foil: The
technique of joining
pieces of glass where
foil is wrapped around
the outside edge of each
glass piece. Pieces are
butted and solder is
melted over the exposed
foil surfaces, causing the
foil-covered glass edges
to become joined.
Cleaning Stained Glass Windows
Tiffany-Style
Stained Glass Windows