About lead came construction
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| Lead came comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes (what we call profiles). This particular piece is 1/4" with a round face. |
There are two traditional methods of constructing stained glass panels: lead came and copper foil.
Lead came is by far the oldest method. This is the method used to build the stained glass windows seen in European cathedrals. While the earliest evidence of using glass in architecture dates back to 400 B.C., people didn't start using lead to join glass pieces until much later. The earliest evidence of using lead came to join glass pieces was found in a 1930 archeology dig in France. The artifacts were estimated to be over 1,000 years old, but were destroyed in World War I.
On the other hand, cooper foil's origins are more recent - developed in the mid 19th century by either Louis Tiffany or John La Farge (no one really knows which).
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| One of Tiffany's organic dragonfly designs. |
These two methods are NOT interchangeable. The question is not which is better, but which is better for a particular design. Lead came is better suited to designs with strong geometric elements, such as the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright or Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Cooper foil is better suited to designs commonly described as "organic" - lots of little pieces, lots of curvy lines. Using cooper foil to build a Mackintosh or Wright-style window is a big mistake. The panels look amateurish and unfinished. Cooper foil solder lines aren't uniform enough. Likewise, using lead came to build a Tiffany-style window would be too uniform. Not to mention masochistic. Of course, many designs (such as a geometric style with a center organic medallion) are best done by combining lead came and cooper foil.
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| One of Mackintosh's designs. |
Because constructing a panel or window using cooper foil is a much simpler process, many stained glass artists have never bothered to learn lead came; and over the last few decades, the number of stained glass artists who are experienced in using lead came has dwindled. Speaking as an artist experienced in both techniques, lead came construction takes more time and is much more messy. On the other hand, foiling hundreds of tiny glass pieces is enough to drive any sane person around the bend.
So, when you shop for an artist to make your window, keep in mind what style of window you have in mind; and make sure the artist you choose knows the best way to execute the design you want.