The
Technique of Stained Glass - by Patrick
Reyntiens
"This book contains everything you need to know to
make stained glass windows. Written by a Master Artist, Patrick
Reyntiens, the book covers every aspect of the manufacture of stained
glass from the setting up of the studio, cutting and painting on glass,
firing the glass, leading and cementing. There are also brief chapters
on other techniques using different forms of glass."
Stained
Glass Work: A Text-Book for Students and Workers in Glass -
by Christopher Whall
An oldie but goodie. If you can't find an original
copy, get the reprint edition from Whitehouse Books. You'll find their
link on our Book Links
page.
Stained
Glass Craft - by J.A
Divine
Dover reprint of another old one. Not as
substantial as Whall, but still interesting.
Stained
Glass Primer: The Basic Skills - by Peter
Mollica
I think this was the first of the "modern" stained
glass how-to books. Concise, to the point. Still good.
How
to Work in Stained Glass- by Anita
Isenberg, Seymour Isenberg
This is the first stained glass book I ever owned.
Good basic information about creating in stained glass. Unimpressive
projects and pictures, but the basic techniques are all covered. You
can usually find a nice used copy at a bargain price.
Stained
Glass From Mind to Light: An Inquiry into the Nature of the Medium -
by Narcissus Quagliata
Stained
Glass Painting: Basic Techniques of the Craft -
by Richard Millard, Anita and Seymour Isenberg
The Isenbergs provide the writing, Dick Millard
provides the skills and experience. The result is a solid introduction
to the tools, techniques, and materials for "real" stained glass
painting.
The
Art of Painting on Glass: Techniques and Designs for Stained Glass - by Albinas
Elskus
From the introduction: "There has been a mystery
surrounding glass-painting methods. Hundred of years ago, guilds had
their own formulas, which were never recorded. Up until recently, the
secrets of the paint mixtures and methods of applying them to glass
were closely guarded. Though this may no longer be true today, the
tradition of secrecy has left its mark, so that the information
available is still sketchy and incomplete in context and details."
From the cover notes: "With this book, the noted
artist Albinas Elskus removes the mystique surrounding the art of
painting on glass. Combining centuries-old artistry and comtemporary
techniques, he reveals the results of his experiments with vitreous
paints, the mixing agents, brushes, tools, and equipment needed, and
the various methods of applying and controlling the paint. Silver
staining, enameling, etching, silkscreening, and firing of painted
glass are all thoroughly described, and many illustrations in both
black-and-white and color are included."
Painting and Firing Stained Glass
- by Ernest W. Twining
This is our own reprint edition of excerpts from
Twining's The Art and Craft of Stained Glass
originally published in 1928. Find
out more about it here.
Rudimentary
Treatise on the Art of Painting on Glass or Glass-Staining: Comprising
Directions for Preparing the Pigments, and Fluxes, for Laying Them on
Glass, and for Firing or Burning in the Colours -
by M. A Gessert
Long out-of-print, hard-to-find, and expensive
when you do. Fascinating work on glass painting from the mid-19th
century.
Following are some of the favorite design
resources on Saints and Symbols from members of the Architectural
Stained Glass online discussion group (see our Glass Links for more
details about the group):
Saints,
Signs and Symbols
Signs
& Symbols in Christian Art (Galaxy Books)
A
Handbook of Symbols in Christian Art
Sacred
and Legendary Art, Part 1
Sacred
and Legendary Art, Part 2
The
Gothic Image: Religious Art in France of the Thirteenth Century (Icon
Editions Series)
Saints
in Art
Church
Symbolism: An Explanation of the More Important Symbols of the Old and
New Testament, the Primitive, the Medieval and the Modern Church
The
Book of Saints
Dictionary
of Symbols
And here are a few more stained glass books that
we like:
Cathedral
: The Story of Its Construction - by David Macaulay
Not specifically about stained glass, but this
book offers a fascinating, easy-to-follow visual journey through the
construction of a cathedral in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Stained
Glass in England (History Handbooks) by June Osborne
Painting
on Light: Drawings and Stained Glass in the Age of Durer and Holbein
The
Jerusalem Windows by Marc Chagall - by Jean Leymarie
Marc Chagall's incredible Stained Glass Opus!
Chicago
Stained Glass by Erne R. Frueh, Florence Frueh
Stained
Glass: Music for the Eye -
by Jill and Robert Hill
I've always loved this book. Nice color photos of
stained and leaded glass panels, with quite a few painted pieces
included. Good mix of styles, old and new.
Peter
McGrain: Uncommon Stained Glass