Canterbury, Canterbury cathedral-stained glass 12

Limoges 001 Art Nouveau glass at railway station

Theo van Doesburg Leaded Glass Composition I

Came glasswork is the process of joining cut pieces of

art glass Art glass is a subset of glass art, this latter covering the whole range of art made from glass. Art glass normally refers only to pieces made since the mid-19th century, and typically to those purely made as sculpture or decorative art, with no ...

through the use of

came A came is a divider bar used between small pieces of glass to make a larger glazing panel. There are two kinds of came: the H-shaped sections that hold two pieces together and the U-shaped sections that are used for the borders. Cames are most ...

strips or foil into picturesque designs in a framework of soldered metal. Final products include a wide range of glasswork, including

stained glass Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...

and lead light pieces. Came is made of different metals, such as

lead Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cut, ...

zinc Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodi ...

brass Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other wi ...

and

copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pink ...

. The metal came selected generally depends upon the size, complexity and weight of the project. As an alternative to came, copper foil may be used, for small, intricate pieces.

Overview

Came glasswork includes assembling pieces of cut and possibly painted

glass Glass is a non- crystalline, often transparent, amorphous solid that has widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in, for example, window panes, tableware, and optics. Glass is most often formed by rapid cooling (quenchin ...

using

sections. The joints where the came meet are

solder Solder (; NA: ) is a fusible metal alloy used to create a permanent bond between metal workpieces. Solder is melted in order to wet the parts of the joint, where it adheres to and connects the pieces after cooling. Metals or alloys suitable ...

ed to bind the sections. When all of the glass pieces have been put within came and a border put around the entire work, pieces are

cement A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel (aggregate) together. Cement mixe ...

ed and supported as needed. The work may be made

waterproof Waterproofing is the process of making an object or structure waterproof or water-resistant so that it remains relatively unaffected by water or resisting the ingress of water under specified conditions. Such items may be used in wet environme ...

by forcing a soft oily cement or

mastic Mastic may refer to: Adhesives and pastes *Mastic (plant resin) *Mastic asphalt, or asphalt, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid * Mastic cold porcelain, or salt ceramic, is a traditional salt-based modeling clay. *Mastic, high-grade con ...

between the glass and the cames. A form of

embellishment In sewing and crafts, an embellishment is anything that adds design interest to the piece. Examples in sewing and craft * appliqué can be made by sewing machine of decorative techniques and or * embroidery, done either by machine or by hand * ...

and

gilding Gilding is a decorative technique for applying a very thin coating of gold over solid surfaces such as metal (most common), wood, porcelain, or stone. A gilded object is also described as "gilt". Where metal is gilded, the metal below was tradi ...

, such as Angel gilding and Eglomise, may be added to finish the piece. File:Lead came cross sections02.png, Schematic depiction of H- and U-shaped lead came cross sections, with embedded glass pieces. File:Oldambt 023.jpg, Glass art Tanja de Heus, Oldambt studio - the project is in process of being assembled File:Newname.ext.jpg,

Musée de Cluny The Musée de Cluny ("Cluny Museum", ), also known as Musée national du Moyen Âge – Thermes et hôtel de Cluny ("National Museum of the Middle Ages – Cluny thermal baths and mansion"), is a museum of the Middle Ages in Paris, ...

students at work in a stained glass workshop - assembling glass with came File:Oldambt 021.jpg, Glass art Tanja de Heus, Oldambt studio File:Zz Glaser P1010007a retouched.jpg, Stained glass sign of a glass worker, an example of a completed work File:Buckled lead came window 01.jpg, Buckled lead came window, an undesired result of completed work that requires restoration Works may need to be reinforced, like large pieces or ones that will be exposed to the outdoor elements. Support can be provided as the piece is made through the use of reinforced and metal-covered lead came, the use of steel strips in the came channels, or use of rigid cames, such as

. Bars of steel or

steel Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistan ...

rebar Rebar (short for reinforcing bar), known when massed as reinforcing steel or reinforcement steel, is a steel bar used as a tension device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures to strengthen and aid the concrete under tension. ...

may be attached to the back of finished works as reinforcement.Shannon, George and Pat Torlen. (2002). ''The new stained glass: techniques, projects, patterns, designs''. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 60. .

History

Theophilus Presbyter Theophilus Presbyter (fl. c. 1070–1125) is the pseudonymous author or compiler of a Latin text containing detailed descriptions of various medieval arts, a text commonly known as the ''Schedula diversarum artium'' ("List of various arts") or ''De ...

, the first to write about joining art glass using the came technique in the book ''De Divers Artibus''. Theophilus was a Benedictine Monk who was a glass and pigment worker who practiced in the late 11th and early 12th centuries.

Materials

Materials to complete a glasswork project may include the

pattern A pattern is a regularity in the world, in human-made design, or in abstract ideas. As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner. A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes and typically repeated li ...

cut glass Cut glass or cut-glass is a technique and a style of decorating glass. For some time the style has often been produced by other techniques such as the use of moulding, but the original technique of cutting glass on an abrasive wheel is still u ...

wood Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin ...

trim Trim or TRIM may refer to: Cutting * Cutting or trimming small pieces off something to remove them ** Book trimming, a stage of the publishing process ** Pruning, trimming as a form of pruning often used on trees Decoration * Trim (sewing), ...

. Additional supplies include

newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, spor ...

, cutter oil, a

plywood Plywood is a material manufactured from thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another. It is an engineered wood from the family of manufactured ...

board,

masking tape Masking tape, also known as painter's tape, is a type of pressure-sensitive tape made of a thin and easy-to-tear paper, and an easily released pressure-sensitive adhesive. It is available in a variety of widths. It is used mainly in painting, t ...

, flux, and whiting.Shannon, George and Pat Torlen. (2002). ''The new stained glass: techniques, projects, patterns, designs''. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 52. .

Came

Lead came is often supplied in lengths of 2 m and in widths of differing sizes. It also comes in flat or domed profiles.

Brass and copper

Brass and copper have been used to bring a copper or golden hue to the works.Berry, Leigh Ann. (2003). ''Basic Stained Glass Making: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started''. Stackpole Books. p. 10. . Generally, though, they were used only for windows between about 1890 and 1920. Both metals were often alternatives to zinc for

Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements o ...

designed windows.Department of Interior. (2004). ''The Preservation of Historic Architecture: The U.S. Government's Official Guidelines for Preserving Historic Homes''. Lyons Press Series. Globe Pequot. p. 397. .

Brass-capped lead

Brass-capped lead is another type of came used for glasswork projects.

Lead

The traditional method of creating "camework glass" uses

, which ages into a dark blue-gray

patina Patina ( or ) is a thin layer that variously forms on the surface of copper, brass, bronze and similar metals and metal alloys ( tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes) or certain stones and wooden furniture (sheen produce ...

. In comparison to other came metal strips, like brass, copper and zinc, lead is softer and more flexible, making it easier to cut and bend. It's also inexpensive and durable. A downside is that the finished projects may be prone to sagging due to lead's softness. This can be mitigated somewhat by stretching the lead to make it more rigid before it is used.Shannon, George and Pat Torlen. (2002). ''The new stained glass: techniques, projects, patterns, designs''. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 51. .Stevenson, Christine. (2004). ''Creative Stained Glass: Modern Designs & Simple Techniques''. Lark Books. p. 12. . Special precautions should be taken when working with this metal came to avoid lead contamination. The lead came windows of the medieval churches are sturdier than those of the 19th century and much of the 20th century. The composition of lead came changed over time, at first by removing other metals to make a "pure lead" and then again during war years when lead was needed for ammunition. Since the 1970s a new form of lead, restoration lead, was developed based upon medieval lead's metal composition. Restoration lead is stronger than lead came of the prior 100 years or so. Water tightness is achieved by brushing

under the flanges of the leads to both faces prior to installation or by applying

putty Putty is a material with high plasticity, similar in texture to clay or dough, typically used in domestic construction and repair as a sealant or filler. Although some types of putty (typically those using linseed oil) slowly polymerise and be ...

afterwards. Typically the cement consisted of

linseed oil Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil or flax oil (in its edible form), is a colourless to yellowish oil obtained from the dried, ripened seeds of the flax plant (''Linum usitatissimum''). The oil is obtained by pressing, sometimes followed by ...

, whiting, lamp black and

white spirit White spirit (AU, UK & Ireland)Primarily in the United Kingdom and Australia. In New Zealand "white spirit" can also refer to Coleman fuel (white gas). or mineral spirits (US, Canada), also known as mineral turpentine (AU/NZ), turpentine substitu ...

. File:Theo van Doesburg Dance II.jpg, Theo van Doesburg, ''Dance II'' File:Leaded glass window, High Street, Saffron Walden - geograph.org.uk - 950274.jpg, Leaded glass window, High Street, Saffron Walden. In this case the came is an integral part of the artistic composition. File:Canterbury Cathedral 012 window showing leading and support.JPG, Canterbury Cathedral window is a 20th-century restoration using restoration lead cames and rods for structural support. It demonstrates good new leading, support, and the method of tying the lead to the rods. File:St Michael's church - Continental stained glass - geograph.org.uk - 1492660.jpg, St Michael's church, Langley, Norfolk File:St Mary's church - east window detail - geograph.org.uk - 1363721.jpg, St Mary's church, Yaxley, Suffolk is also an example of came glasswork restoration

Zinc

Zinc makes a lightweight, strong and rigid came, which lends itself to glasswork projects that don't have many curved lines, are large, or have a number of straight lines that require greater support than lead would afford. Zinc accepts finishes, such as black and copper. Because of its strength, zinc is often used for border cames, which are U-channel cames for the outside edges. Frank Lloyd Wright used zinc came for his stained glass windows.Heinz, Thomas A. (September / October 1989). "Use & Repair of Zinc Cames in Art-Glass Windows." ''Old House Journal''. pp. 35–38.

Beveled glass Beveled glass is usually made by taking thick glass and creating an angled surface cut (bevel) around the entire periphery. Bevels act as prisms in sunlight creating an interesting color refraction which both highlights the glass work and provides ...

work is generally done in zinc came, primarily because of its ability to manage the weight of heavy plate glass; whereas beveled glass works made of lead came are much more likely to buckle or sag over time. File:Dana Thomas Windows.jpg, Windows on south wall of Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana-Thomas House, Springfield IL File:Avery Coonley Windows.jpg, Windows now in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Copper foil

Copper foil is an easy, versatile alternative to came and is particularly useful for small projects. Using

foil Foil may refer to: Materials * Foil (metal), a quite thin sheet of metal, usually manufactured with a rolling mill machine * Metal leaf, a very thin sheet of decorative metal * Aluminium foil, a type of wrapping for food * Tin foil, metal foil ...

, the edges of the glass pieces are wrapped with adhesive copper tape and

soldered Solder (; NA: ) is a fusible metal alloy used to create a permanent bond between metal workpieces. Solder is melted in order to wet the parts of the joint, where it adheres to and connects the pieces after cooling. Metals or alloys suitable ...

together along the adjacent copper strips. A patent for the method of "Joining Glass Mosaics" was issued to Sanford Bray in 1886, This new method of joining pieces of stained glass used copper/copper foil instead of lead sashes. By using copper foil, one could now make cylinders, cones, and globe-shaped shades or many other irregular forms. File:Lead came and Copper foil Glasswork Flowchart.png, Comparison of the steps to use lead vs. copper foil came File:CopperFoil glasswork wrapped before soldering.jpg, Glass pieces wrapped with copper foil, before soldering File:CopperFoil glasswork soldering.jpg, Copper foil glasswork soldering File:Tiffany glasswork Hanukkah menora02.jpg, Copper foil glasswork

Hanukkah menorah A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah,Also called a chanukiah ( he, מנורת חנוכה ''menorat ḥanukkah'', pl. ''menorot''; also he, חַנֻכִּיָּה ''ḥanukkiyah'', or ''chanukkiyah'', pl. ''ḥanukkiyot''/''chanukkiyot'', or yi, ח ...

Tools

Tools to complete a glasswork project can include:Stevenson, Christine. (2004). ''Creative Stained Glass: Modern Designs & Simple Techniques''. Lark Books. pp. 10–11. . *

brush A brush is a common tool with bristles, wire or other filaments. It generally consists of a handle or block to which filaments are affixed in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation, depending on the way the brush is to be gripped durin ...

es: toothbrush, scrub brush, flux brush or cotton swabs *

carbide In chemistry, a carbide usually describes a compound composed of carbon and a metal. In metallurgy, carbiding or carburizing is the process for producing carbide coatings on a metal piece. Interstitial / Metallic carbides The carbides of t ...

grinding stone *

cloth Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...

s * cork-backed straightedge * crimper or burnisher, for copper foil *

glass cutter A glass cutter is a tool used to make a shallow score in one surface of a piece of glass (normally a flat one) that is to be broken in two pieces, for example to fit a window. The scoring makes a split in the surface of the glass which encourages ...

* glass grinder * glazing hammer *

glove A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves usually have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb. If there is an opening but no (or a short) covering sheath for each finger they are called fingerless gloves. Fingerless g ...

s *

hammer A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object. This can be, for example, to drive nails into wood, to shape metal (as wi ...

and horseshoe

nail Nail or Nails may refer to: In biology * Nail (anatomy), toughened protective protein-keratin (known as alpha-keratin, also found in hair) at the end of an animal digit, such as fingernail * Nail (beak), a plate of hard horny tissue at the tip ...

s * lathekin *

mask A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment and often they have been employed for rituals and rights. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and pra ...

: dust mask or respirator * metal files *

s * permanent marker * pliers: breaker-grozier, combination, running *

safety glasses Glasses, also known as eyeglasses or spectacles, are vision eyewear, with lenses (clear or tinted) mounted in a frame that holds them in front of a person's eyes, typically utilizing a bridge over the nose and hinged arms (known as temples or ...

* saw: miter came saw,

hacksaw A hacksaw is a fine-toothed saw, originally and mainly made for cutting metal. The equivalent saw for cutting wood is usually called a bow saw. Most hacksaws are hand saws with a C-shaped walking frame that holds a blade under tension. Suc ...

side cutter Diagonal pliers (also known as wire cutters, diagonal cutting pliers, diagonal cutters, side cutters, dikes or Nippy cutters) are pliers intended for the cutting of wire (they are generally not used to grab or turn anything). The plane define ...

s *

scissors Scissors are hand-operated shearing tools. A pair of scissors consists of a pair of metal blades pivoted so that the sharpened edges slide against each other when the handles (bows) opposite to the pivot are closed. Scissors are used for cutt ...

soldering iron A soldering iron is a hand tool used in soldering. It supplies heat to melt solder so that it can flow into the joint between two workpieces. A soldering iron is composed of a heated metal tip (the ''bit'') and an insulated handle. Heating ...

sponge Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), are a basal animal clade as a sister of the diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate throu ...

utility knife A utility knife is any type of knife used for general manual work purposes.Peterson, Harold L., ''Daggers and Fighting Knives of the Western World'', London: Herbert Jenkins Ltd., , p. 1 Such knives were originally fixed-blade knives with d ...

vise A vise or vice (British English) is a mechanical apparatus used to secure an object to allow work to be performed on it. Vises have two parallel jaws, one fixed and the other movable, threaded in and out by a screw and lever. A vise grip is n ...

* wire brush File:Horseshoe nails for lead came glasswork 01.jpg, Horseshoe nails for lead came glasswork File:Glazier tools.JPG, Glazier tools File:Triple blade pattern shears for glasswork 02.jpg, Triple blade pattern shears for glasswork File:breaker-grozier-pliers.jpg, Breaker-grozier pliers