St Patrick’s Hands – Before & After
Left:
100 year old European-made stained glass with kiln fired vitreous (glass) paint applied in several layers, damaged by vandalism, with flecks of origninal paint lost.
Right:
New stained glass replica of original piece by Durhan Studios, with kiln fired vitreous (glass) paint applied in several layers, replacing broken original seamlessly.
Matching original painted glass this closely requires the talents of several staff members:
- Studying the original to determine the number of layers of paint , and shades of glass-paint used…
- The selection of new antique mouth blown glass to match the original color/tint precisely…
- Application of trace color to match the original drawing…
- Application of matte color and appropriate medium (water, alcohol, oil, turpentine) to match the original
- Selection and use of brushes to replicate the original “scratched off” areas of paint, creating lighter tones…
- Firing in the glass kiln at the proper temperature and for the proper time to fuse the paint permanently to the glass.
Restoration/Repair Stained Glass
St. Patrick – Glenn Cove
At the Church of St. Patrick in Glenn Cove, vandals broke through the bottom panel of the angel on the right in this triple set of Gothic lancet windows.
See top right of image.
Bottom section of image shows the breakage. In this detail of the breakage you can see that only about half of the original circle design could be retrieved.
Based on the other original panels, and with comprehensive knowledge of traditional religious symbolism , Durhan Studios “filled in the blanks” and recreated a compatible image to the other windows using new and original pieces.
View repaired and restored stained glass in image below…
Completed Repair/Restoration
Here is the finished replication and repair of the damaged window. New pieces include one of the angel’s feet, portions of the undergarment, and parts of figures in the scene on the round image upon which the angel stands.
Stained Glass Restoration – Hand & Sacred Book
Also at St. Patrick’s Church, another window in a slightly different style was also damaged by vandals. In this case, a figure holding a sacred book against liturgical vestments was broken apart with several important pieces missing.
Left:
The original glass pieces that were damaged by vandals.
Right:
New replicated pieces set into the original window.