When people think about stained glass, they typically picture colorful, traditional windows found in churches. Some people may be aware that there are different types of stained glass available, ranging from leaded, clear glass to traditional. Even fewer people may realize that there are actually 20 different types of stained glass! Here are some of our favorites:
The Different Types of Stained Glass
- Architectural: characterized as smooth on one side and textured on the other.
- Cathedral: translucent in nature, cathedral stained glass is typically made in one color and can be blown or machine rolled.
- Semi-antique: translucent, machine-made glass that has a consistent thickness and surface striations.
- Full-antique: handmade stained glass that’s translucent with rich colors, often having trapped air bubbles and pockets.
- Flashed: this antique glass has a second layer of color over a base color that can be exposed through etching or sandblasting to create a design.
- Craquel: referring to full-antique stained glass that’s been dipped in cool water to cause an exterior layer of glass to intentionally crack for an alligator pattern.
- Fractures and steamers: also known as confetti glass, the shards of colored glass and thin glass rods create an opal or clear base.
- Glue chip: artisans utilize an animal hide glue to apply cathedral glass that’s sandblasted on one side and uses a special technique to tear flakes away to create a pattern.
- Iridescent: opalescent or cathedral glass that’s coated with a thin layer of metallic salts for a shimmer effect.
- Mirror: colored art glass and clear float glass are coated with a reflective layer.
- Opaque: great for stained glass mosaics, can feature one or more colors.
- Opalescent: milky, luminescent glass.
- Ring mottled: opalescent glass with hazy surface.
- Streaky: swirls of color not mixed together.
- Seedy: cathedral glass with smooth surface and small air bubbles.
Work with Denver’s Trusted Stained Glass Studio
Scottish Stained Glass has decades of custom stained glass experience and can help you achieve anything. Contact us today!
