Our custom stained glass windows look great in the natural light! Two more windows are completed for our clients in Edisto Island. The blue plating on the figures in the wedding of Cana gives the couple just the right hue to blend with the cool background colors. Also note the heron in the miraculous catch of fish, where our painter expertly matched the painted orange on the face with the orange glass of the beak!
Tiffany Window Restoration in Quincy
The Tiffany windows at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Quincy, IL are a sight to be seen! Bovard Studio fully restored two Tiffany windows and several others after a church fire. Note the attention to texture on the garments and figures. Tiffany utilized the glass qualities to describe form, using herringbone textured glass to give the appearance of feathers for the angel wings and heavily undulating drapery glass for the figure’s clothing.
The windows were removed by a disaster remediation contractor after the church caught fire. After being stored in a warehouse with other church artifacts, the Tiffany Angel window glass was found falling apart in piles across a concrete floor, its weakened condition causing many of the exterior layers of glass to slide from the panel.
It was a challenge to reassemble the window and find proper placement of the plating. Careful study of the intact portions made it possible to return the layers of glass to their original positions on the window. Replacements were carefully chosen from thousands of possible matches and flash glass was acid etched to match existing plating. There was no documentation and very little photography of the windows before removal so the restoration plan was heavily reliant on our extensive Tiffany restoration experience.
All except one of the acid etched pieces was pieced back together and edge glued (though other pieces of glass were also replaced because they were partially or completely missing). The subtle colorations in the robes, background clouds & sky, including the radiance from Christ & descending Holy Spirit dove, were all achieved by selective and precise use of acid to remove color from each layer of colored glass, only leaving it in the locations needed. The result being a full restoration faithful to the techniques of Tiffany.
Stained Glass Craftsmen Preserving History
Yuri stands proudly next to the panel he restored for Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Moline, IL. Artists like Yuri help preserve historical artwork for the public’s enjoyment!
Line Work for New Stained Glass: Edisto Island Church
Multitudes of heads and limbs are at the beginning stages of stained glass painting for a new hand-crafted window. The windows will feature different Christ water miracles, tying together the water theme for St. Frederick & St. Stephen Catholic Church, a new church in Charleston, SC.
Soldering "Good Shepherd" Stained Glass Window
Soldering is completed for this restored “Good Shepherd” stained glass window. The quality of stained glass has a dramatically different appearance in reflected light, especially painted pieces. Most of these dark pieces will be completely illuminated once installed for sunlight to shine through.
Shading Gradations in Stained Glass Painting
The figures on Bovard’s custom-designed stained glass window are continuing to flesh out. Close-ups of the painted stained glass pieces reveal the soft shading gradations and delicate lines achieved by our skilled artists.
Assembling a Custom Stained Glass Window
Painted stained glass pieces for Fron Lutheran’s custom stained glass window are being assembled. The flesh pieces will be given more layers of paint as they typically require. Each layer will add depth and realism to the glass artwork.
