AdammsGallery

Historic Hollywood Hills Stained Glass Restoration

 

                                                                           


                                      Center Medallion                                                          Restored Window                                                              Right Medallion

We are called often to restore old stained-glass windows. It is always fun to bring back these old windows to life. We also feel a kinship to the artisans that created them 100 or so years ago. 

                                                                                         
                                            soldering lead came                                          leading up the window                                 leaded and soldered window before glazing
                                                                
This was certainly the case for this set of three windows that are in a 100-year-old home in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles. These windows are 16 feet tall and in three sections. Each section is set on top of the other by opening up the open side of the H lead and pinching the bottom of the upper panel. We putty the joining areas again after the window is set.

This set of three had a fairly intricate hand painted medallion in the center panels. The glass used for the medallions is hand blown German (antique) glass. The painting is really exquisite, and with the remained of the windows clear glass and simple it really jumps out. The lead came is 1/2" H channel, and there are reinforcing bars on each horizontal lead line. The original curved molding that was used to install the arched tops was pretty much disintegrated and was the rest of the molding. We replaced all the Straight with new wood molding and used flexible molding for the arches. The owner was very pleased, and we feel like the original artisans would be also.

     We are currently in the process of restoring additional clear leaded diamond panels in other parts of the house.

It is always an honor to work on these windows and to have the faith and trust of the owners to do the work.

Stainerd Glass Window Restoration - First United Methodist Church Santa Barbara, Californiqa

First United Methodist Church
of 
Santa Barbara

     We continue to work on these beautiful windows. They were created in Germany. and installed in 1927. The painting is truly magnificent, and our glass painter Nancy Cox, is doing a wonderful job recreating the broken pieces. Painting is a pain taking process, especially when you are copying the work of an artist from the early 20th century.

    Whenever we restore historic windows we attempt to preserve whatever glass we can. We also use matching lead profiles  when we assemble the window. Fortunately we use DHD metals in Conyers, GA. They have an unsurpassed assortment of  all types of lead came old and new, This makes my life much easier. Of course if we ever run into a profile that they do not have a new dye can easily be made.

     The process of restoring historic windows involves following the guidelines of the Department of Interior. These set standards for releading, gluing,replacing, reinforcing, painting, and many more facets of the restoration process. Firstly of course, we carefully remove the windows and transport them to the studio in crates. Then before we disassemble them we make archival rubbings for the church to keep on file. These would be used as a cartoon pattern and,are essential in the event of a fire or other disaster that may destroy a window.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Then we begin the disassembling process by soaking the window in water to soften the old putty. This allows us to more safely take the window apart, without breakage.

 

 

 

 

archival rubbing                                                                                                                        `                                                soaking

                

 

 

                                                                                        first firing in kiln of painted pieces

The next step is to disassemble and check for pieces that may be glued, or need to be replaced. If they need replacement they are set  aside and duplicated. The final step is painting and then firing in our kiln at 1250 degrees F. This fuses the glass paint to the glass. 

 

       Then we begin the building process. Cleaning the pieces, leading up the window, soldering, puttying, and finally cleaning again. Now they are ready to install. 

 

                                 

             

         Checking pieces                            leading up                                               soldering joints                                    Puttying

    

 

Two of the first 10 installed

Stained Glass Restoration of a 90 Year Old Masterpiece

     Having had my own stained glass business in Los Angeles since 1972 I have seen many beautiful windows. There are thousands of vintage stained glass windows in Westwood, Hancock Park, West Adams area, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. Many of these are fairly standard windows that were made between 1925 and the 1940's. There were a number of stained glass studios that made residential windows for contractors and homeowners. The most recent American Glass Art Studio closed in the late 1970's. Because these stained glass studios made them they are referred to as "Studio Windows". Usually they consisted  of a front window in the living room approximately 4-5 feet wide and 6-8 feet tall. They may be rectangular or have a radius top, and occasionally a more intricate shape. The designs might be rectangles, squares, or diamond shapes, and would have either no border, or a colorful border of reds, blues, golds, greens, and browns, or any combination of these. The more expensive windows would have a painted shield or othert design in the center along with a painted border. The border painting was usually just black, or dark brown(ancient) shading.

     Inside the home you could find a 2 foot by 4 foot sky light in the hall. In the larger homes there are stained glass on stair case landings, bedrooms, studies, and bathrooms. There are often built in book cases with clear leaded glass designs. It is always special working on these windows, and imagining the original craftsman, and the amazing love they put into them. Below are images of a recent restoration.

 

The two images above show a 90 year old window from a stair case landing in Westwood, California. It is easy to see the deterioration of the lead, and the oxidation build up on the glass. The restoration of this window began with making a rubbing of the window to serve as a guide for releading. Then we soak it overnight in water to loosen the old putty. With the putty softened it was easy to safely remove the old lead from the window, and clean the glass.

Once the window was cleaned we can begin the releading process.
      
 

and soldering all the lead joints. You can see that the window was made with 3/16 H round lead, and  3/8" H flat lead for the border and frame.
The finished window  was approximately 30" wide and 74" tall. I'm sure you will agree that this is an exceptional window. It never looked better.

Custom Stained Glass Roundel Window

Most of my customers call roundels "bottle bottoms". Indeed they look like the bottle of a bottle. Actually the process is similar. At least it use to be when bottles were mouth blown. Today roundels are made one at a time in the same manner they were made in the middle ages. A gather of glass is taken by the glass blower and a slight breath of air is blown into the pipe. The resultant bubble is then transferred to a punty rod.  Once on the rod the glass blower returns it to the furnace(glory hole) to keep it hot. Then the glass blower opens  the bubble with a pair of wide prong pliers. Then the glass blower spins the bubble, and the centifugal force does the rest. The bubble is changed into a disk shape. Finally the roundel is broken off the punty rod, and cooled in a lair.

                

      There are many designs that incorporate rondels, and roundels come in many sizes, and colors. Historically roundels were clear and used in homes as decorative windows to allow light in. They were also used in secular buildings for design. Some roundels have texture(ripples), some are solid colors, and some have a variet of colors in them. The designs can be roundels placed side by side vertically and horizontally, or they can have separation between them with a variety of designs. There is always a background glass. Again this glass can be clear, obscure,or colored.

                   

  

  We just finished this wonderful design for our clients laundry room. She wanted a decorative window that would hide the washer and dryer, and didn't want to use opalescent glass. In addition to the roundels we used 1" square faceted glass jewels.

    The leading holding the roundels and glass together can vary in width and shape as well. In this case we used 1/4" lead. depending on the size roundel and effect we have used 3/16" and 3/8" wide lead came. After the window is assembled, soldered, and puttied reinforcing bars are soldered to the inside to support the weight and pressures.

Stained Glass Windows from Phylis Diller's Home

Phyllis Diller    

    This week we removed 13 wonderful 100 year old windows from the former home of Phyllis Diller. The home is being demolished and the new owners wanted to save these wonderful windows. They are all clear glass with painted detail, and family crests. 

     When we removed them I didn't know who had lived in the home. I did have a strange feeling of loss for the house. It is over 9,000 square feet of living space.Just walking through and seeing the partially demolished dining room, living rooms, kitchen, and family room felt awkward. I knew there was so much 

 history to the house, and so many great parties, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinners. It was sad to think that it will hardly be a memory in a few days.

When I looked up the previous owner it gave all the rooms even more meaning. I'm sure there were some great times there.

     Over the years we have worked on many historic buildings and homes.  These windows rank right up therewith the best. They are an excellent example of heraldic design in stained glass.

 

Historic Stained Glass Restoration: Wilshire Boulevard Temple

  

      Over two years ago we were contacted to bid on the stained glass restoration of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. The Temple was going through a major restoration.  The complete Temple was  being brought back to its original beauty in a 175 million dollar campaign. Unfortunately, although we were one of only three studios asked to bid the project, we were not the winners.  The Judson Studios of Pasadena, CA won the contract for the restoration.

     A year after we submitted the original bid we were called back and asked if we were interested in bidding on a project not included in the originl bid. This was the Piness Auditorium(part of the temple). Naturally I said yes, and we were awarded the contract. We completed the restoration of one of the panels from the auditorium as a sample.  With the contractor, Temple committee, and architect in approval we began the complete restoration.  In all there were 27 panels that made up three sections.  All the glass was a clear cathedral that was painted and fired. There was just enough stipple effect to make the glass look old and dirty, which cut down on the glare of the sunlight, but provided plenty of light. For the past 50 years the windows had been covered up with a stucco shell on the outside. The stucco was broken away and we removed all the windows.

Original window(The image does show the weakness of the window, with the old lead)

     The restoration followed standard Department of Interior Guidelines.  First we made rubbings of the original windows. Then we disassembled them and soaked them in water to loosen the old putty. After a night of soaking we cleaned up the glass and began releading.  We had to paint  over 30 extra pieces that had been broken over time. We used 5/8 H flat lead for the interior and border lead, and we used Wonder putty from the Atlas Putty Company for glazing.

dissassembled and soaking                                           leading up

soldering                                                                    finished window

     The installation went very smoothly, and we made everyone happy. I consider it one the the true delights of this business to be able to restore such treasures. It is an honor to have worked on this project.

    If you are ever in Los Angeles I suggest a trip to The Wilshire Blvd. Temple. The sanctuary is a true wonder.

 

Adamm's Stained Glass

1426 4th St.

Santa Monica, CA 90401

310 451 9390     www.adammsgallery.com

 

Historic Preservation: Painting on Glass

 

 

     We were recently asked to restore a leaded glass window containing a medallion of a  painted scene  with a sailboat.  The medallion was broken, and the client was doubtful that we could  make a duplicate.Knowing how talented our painter is I had no such doubts.

     We carefully removed the old glass and let our painter, Mary Orrel, get to work.  I know you will agree that there will be no doubts in the future.

     You can see the broken piece on the right and the new replacement piece on the left.  The only difference is in the availability of colored paints today.  The window is approximately 85 years old. Most all old paints contained elements that are illegal today(lead, arsenic, etc.). Dispite  this minor problem everyone was extraordinarily happy.