If you've read any of my posts lately you'll now know I have a love of glass and this includes stained glass, so that's what we'll be looking at in this article - gorgeous examples of stained glass. Stained glass has been an art form known since the very beginning of the14th century and has barely changed since that time. Ancient and modern, stained glass is gorgeous.
1. Stained Glass Window
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This is a little bit of a cheat because this isn't real stained glass but I wanted to share it with you. If you have a passion for stained glass, you can buy faux glass decals from home and DIY stores.
2. California Poppies Blooming
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This reminds me of the work of Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh, except he preferred tulips to poppies.
3. Art Nouveau Stained Glass Windows
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How glorious to have a room like this. A wonderful reading area.
4. Barcelona Opera House
Imagine the hours of painstaking work that went into creating all the lead strips for those tiny spaces.
5. Blue Morpho Butterfly
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Stained glass panels can be in doors or part of a larger
plain window.
6. Peacock
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Imagine the light shining through that blue.
7. Agate Stained Glass Panels
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If you see stained glass that has curves and circles, it is more likely to be modern, not antique.
8. Stained Glass Guitar
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A stunning work of art.
9. Sunburst Stained Glass Panel
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It's fitting that a sunburst is a subject for stained glass.
10. Tree of Life
Via Art Gallery of Lynette Chubb
The term stained glass is applied even when there is no "stain" - the term has come to represent art glass made with lead sections.
11. Art Deco Window
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The unmistakable style of art deco.
12. Stained Glass Window in a Turkish Rest Stop
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Stained glass is found all around the world.
13. Stained Glass Birds
Stained glass can feature all sorts of pictures and patterns.
14. Dragonfly
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Look at the detail on the wings. Impressive, huh?
15. LARGE Flowing Tree in Moonlight Stained Glass Window Panel
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You can buy panels to hang on your existing windows. Check Etsy, eBay and glass artists' websites.
16. Stained Glass Wave
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The ocean is a popular theme in modern stained glass.
17. Octopus
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Newer techniques have made making curves and circles
easier.
18. Owl Suncatcher
Suncatchers are affordable little works of art.
19. Raindrops
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Bring the outdoors in, without getting wet.
20. Ocean Wave Panel
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This really appeals to the water baby in me.
21. Purples Ripple and Granite
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This gorgeous art nouveau piece would look fabulous in a Victorian house.
22. Carolina Hemlock
Some glass artists paint directly on the glass as well as using stained pieces.
23. Nature
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I love the organic form of some modern glass pieces.
24. Saint Gatien's Cathedral, Tours, France
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Stained glass began as a religious art form and was first used in churches. Most of what follows are examples of church stained glass. Some depict scenes, while others are abstract.
25. Stained Glass Window in an Abandoned Church
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I love the way the beautiful glass stands out in the dilapidation around it.
26. Stained Glass Window Graffiti
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Banksy brings stained glass bang up to date.
27. Basílica De La Sagrada Família - Barcelona, Spain
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The way stained glass throws light into the church is awesome.
28. Colorful Window
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Love this Victorian example.
29. Suffused with Light
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Those colors are simply amazing.
30. National Cathedral, Washington DC, USA
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Many of the world's major churches and cathedrals have a "rose" window.
31. Washington National Cathedral, Washington DC, USA
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But I don't imagine that any other has a "space" window and certainly not one that contains an actual piece of moon rock embedded in it.
32. Sens Cathedral, France
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Sens Cathedral is one of the oldest and largest Gothic churches in France. Interestingly, some of the stained glass windows depict the story of the English Saint Thomas-a-Becket, representing the ties between England and France in the early Middle Ages.
33. Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Tulsa, USA
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Stained glass features in new churches too.
34. College Hill Presbyterian Church in Easton, USA
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This is an original window created and signed by Louis Comfort Tiffany - America's greatest glass artist.
35. Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
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The colors are amazing. Such a wonderful palette of reds and pinks.
36. Canterbury Cathedral
One of the two archbishoprics of England.
37. St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic
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Alphonse Mucha was one of the pre-eminent Bohemian glass artists
38. Siena Cathedral, Siena, Italy
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It looks more like a mosaic.
39. Frauminster Cathedral, Zurich, Switzerland
I'm going to finish with a few examples by Marc Chagall. Russian/French Chagall worked in many mediums but I adore his stained glass. His works appear in churches all over the world.
40. Art Institute, Chicago, USA
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Mesmerizingly beautiful.
41. Reims Cathedral, Reims, France
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Chagall was really fond of blue for his stained glass church windows.
42. Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
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The Hadassah windows in the Abbell Synagogue were a labor of love for Chagall. They picture and represent Jewish history, Judaism and Jewish culture.
43. Chichester Cathedral, Chichester, England
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The window tells the story of the sons of Jacob from whence came the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
Like every art form, the variety of stained glass is immense. I'm usually drawn to color rather than pattern. Is it something you appreciate?
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are some good ideas for stained glass windows?
- Oh, there are so many! You can go for a classic Art Deco sunburst, or maybe try something with modern geometric patterns. Simple designs with clear lines can be really beautiful, too.
- Where can I use stained glass in my home?
- Stained glass isn't just for churches! You can use it in bathroom windows for privacy, in kitchen cabinets to display your favorite dishes, or even as a room divider. It adds a magical touch anywhere.
- Is making stained glass art difficult?
- It can be a bit tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's so rewarding! There are beginner kits and tutorials that can help you learn the basics. Start simple, then let your creativity grow from there.
- What if I want something unique or funny?
- Go for it! There are so many cool and even funny stained glass patterns out there. Think quirky animals, funky shapes, or even something personalized. The sky's the limit with stained glass!
- Can stained glass be modern?
- Absolutely! Stained glass isn't just old-school anymore. Modern designs often use bold, clean lines and vibrant colors. Think sleek and minimalistic, but still with that gorgeous stained glass charm.
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