Is stained glass coated with something? Example: Tiffany Style Lamp?
I have noticed when I tap on stained glass that has been soldered together that it "sounds" like plastic. I was wondering why. Is it coated? Is it because the pieces are so small and soldered together? Or, is most "stained glass" today actually plastic?
Would love to hear from someone that makes and/or sells Tiffany style lamps or Stained glass windows.
It is definitely soldered together. I have painted glass as well so I know what you are talking about, and this is different.
There is a chance that the pieces I have experience with were made in China. What do they do differently?
China is making it’s own glass now, but it is poor quality and has no sheen. The glass can be hard to cut and sometimes it can just be "crumbled" to make the shape. When the lamp is finished they coat the outside with an oil that gives it the sheen, but the glass sounds like plastic when you tap on it.
Stained glass is actually "stained". There is some type of dye that they put into the glass while it’s still in a liquid form. About the plastic, no, it’s not plastic. In my house, there is a stained glass lamp (which I know is real glass) and I’ve noticed too that it sounds like plastic. I don’t know why, but it is real stained glass. They might make fake stained glass, but they would tell you what it was made out of. Also, Tiffany & Co. wouldn’t sell fake glass, they are too high quality.
References :
Stained glass pieces are made from glass. They can be treated with a patina to color the soldering a black ( or other finishes) and there is a polish that is put on the glass and solder lines. It may sound like plastic because of the small pieces, but if it is a lamp it is definitely glass. Plastic wouldn’t really hold up to the heat of a lamp.
References :
I work with stained glass, though I’m just a beginner.
You may have come upon a plastic lamp instead of authentic.
Real stained glass gets it’s colour from oxides and elements like cobalt, sulphur and other minerals to produce colour.
References :
Professional Published Stained Glass Artist
I make stained glass lamps & panels. But, I’ve never hear of stained glass sound like plastic. This is a new one for me. Maybe its one of those pieces made in China. Are you sure it’s soldered together or just one of those pieces that looks like stained glass (i.e., painted with acrylic paint and fake lead lines)?
References :
Because the glass is layed into a relatively soft material like lead or tin. That makes the vibration sound muffled.
References :
Sorry to tell you but sounds like, you have a lamp with flat pieces of clear glass panels and glued on strips of lead to make the shape of cut glass sections and then painted colors to make it look real, I’ve seen these lamps for sell at flea markets myself.
References :
China is making it’s own glass now, but it is poor quality and has no sheen. The glass can be hard to cut and sometimes it can just be "crumbled" to make the shape. When the lamp is finished they coat the outside with an oil that gives it the sheen, but the glass sounds like plastic when you tap on it.
References :
25 years working in the stained glass industry , Stained glass Studio owner