Victorian style: Stained glass windows

Victorian stained glass window A favourite feature of Victorian homes was stained glass of all kinds as it was a way to individualise and personalise a residence. There was a wide range of designs and features that made this a stunning aspect of Victorian exterior style and Victorian interior style as part of doors and windows. This article provides some characteristics and features of stained glass windows done in the Victorian style so you can add this to your list of restoration projects for your Victorian home.

Understanding Stained Glass

This art form relies entirely on daylight in order to truly enjoy the effect that the leaded glass patterns can make on the observer, mixing numerous colours and designs or offering easily identifiable items like flowers, animals, and the like. Not only do the colours create an incredible effect, but there are also often textures within the glass that enhance the artwork. The stained glass was originally made by combining and melting sand, lime, and potash, which could then be coloured by adding different metallic oxides for various colours. Other processes later allowed for sheets of this glass to be made with a surface layer of colour that would then be framed with lead and melded together.

Victorian Style in Stained Glass

As a focal point in a Victorian home and also found in public buildings during this time period, stained glass windows and stained glass inserts in doors were often considered extravagant and ornate in their designs, often serving as a way to designate a person’s wealth and social status as those in lower social classes could not afford such embellishments to their residences. Stained glass panels were often found in picture windows as well as part of foyers, bathrooms, and staircases. Often, those that could afford such decor items would use them in large numbers as the Victorian home was noted for its cluttered look. There are numerous ways to incorporate the Victorian style of stained glass into your home. You can opt for a classic geometric design with clear architectural glass or you can add as much colour as you want, depending upon whether you are incorporating items like flowers or animals. Often, you can find stained glass in corner window panels that further enhance the effect of the stained glass design by allowing the light to hit each window from multiple angles.

Victorian Style Stained Glass Doors

Victorian Front Door with Stained Glass It can be difficult to find old exterior or interior doors with stained glass inserts that can be restored, so it might be an idea to work with a company who can create a reproduction door with customised stained glass that will complement your Victorian exterior and interior features. We can help you... Be sure to visit our gallery of stained glass designs that emulate the Victorian style and have all been handmade to order and to current building codes with hand-set glass as well as leaded and soldered sections to hold these beautiful creations together.